Deadline arrives for answering Justice letters in terrorism probe; extension unlikely

By GERALDA MILLER
Associated Press Writer

DETROIT – The U.S. attorney's office said it was unlikely to extend Monday's deadline for men in eastern Michigan to respond to the Justice Department's letter requesting interviews for its terrorism probe.

Nationwide, 5,000 men – mostly from Middle Eastern countries – were wanted for questioning in the investigation. More than 560 live in eastern Michigan and were sent letters asking them to contact federal officials.

Of them, more than 200 had responded by Friday, but there was no final count yet, the U.S. attorney's office said. The original deadline of Dec. 4 was extended because of the large response.

Jeffrey Collins, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said he did not anticipate extending the deadline again, though he said some people may not have received letters yet because they were mailed to incorrect or old addresses.

For those who haven't responded, "we're going to have to do some follow up," Collins said, which could be by phone, mail or a visit.

Attorney Mohammed Abdrabboh said more than half of his 30 clients who are in the United States on expired visas haven't responded to the letter.

"They're in a panic, big time panic," Abdrabboh said.

Abdrabboh said he wants an assurance that his clients will be protected from deportation if they appear for the interviews.

"It's just a wait-and-see game now," he said. "We'll see the government's true intent shortly."

Representatives from nine civil rights and Arab advocate groups asked Collins on Friday not to prosecute men for visa violations who come forward for questioning.

Collins said the interviews were not targeting immigration violations but if any were found, the government is authorized to pass the information on to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Officials in western Michigan have been going door-to-door to talk to the about 85 men there.

The target date for completing the interviews is Dec. 21, though Collins said there will likely be flexibility for those areas like southeastern Michigan that have a large number of men to interview.

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On the Net:

U.S. attorney: www.usdoj.gov/usao/mie/index.htm

Arab American Anti Discrimination Committee: www.adc.org

AP-WS-12-10-01 1224EST