DOJ to Interview 5,000 Targeted People
Posted Nov 30, 2001

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has started interviews of approximately 5,000 individuals in connection with its investigation of the September 11^th terrorist attacks on the U.S. According to DOJ, these persons are not suspects but may have information helpful to the investigation or to the government's effort to disrupt further terrorist activity.

The individuals were identified based on three criteria. The first criterion is entry to the U.S. from one of a group of listed countries. This list, which includes several European countries as well as countries in the Middle East and elsewhere, was compiled from various intelligence sources regarding past Al Qaeda operations. The list aims to identify those countries from which a terrorist might be likely to plot an attack and then enter the U.S. This means that individuals are identified based on what country they are traveling from, rather than on their national origin. The second criterion is that the person entered the United States after January 1, 2000. Finally, the group is limited to males between the ages of 18 and 33.

The lists of the persons to be interviewed are being sent to Anti-terrorism Task Forces throughout the U.S. The interviews will be conducted through these task forces with the assistance of local law enforcement officials.

An 8-page Memorandum dated November 9, 2001 was sent from the Assistant Attorney General to law enforcement officials. It details how to conduct an interview and the fact that an interview should be consensual (voluntary) with the purpose of eliciting information on terrorists, on the funding for terrorist organizations, and on the interviewee's response toward the September 11^th attacks.

One issue mentioned in the Memo suggests that if any law enforcement official suspects that the person being interviewed is in violation of his or her immigration status, the law enforcement officer should contact the INS immediately. The INS can then verify the status of the person and conduct additional interviews or investigations. Although the purpose stated is to enforce our immigration laws, the focus is primarily to target suspected terrorists or those believed possibly to have connections with suspected terrorists.