LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California announced on Tuesday that it will offer free legal representation to all persons in the Southern California area who are questioned by the FBI in its latest dragnet interview program.

The ACLU/SC's announcement came in response to statements from local FBI officials that they plan to question, and in fact are in the process of questioning, at least several hundred Muslims and others of South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African descent in Southern California as part of a national initiative to interview several thousand people. In keeping with similar initiatives in the recent past, the FBI has stated that the persons targeted for questioning are not suspected of any criminal activity.

"None of the interviewees is a suspect, but going in alone for an FBI interview can be very scary, no matter who you are," said Ahilan T. Arulanantham, staff attorney with the ACLU of Southern California. "Having an attorney present helps calm a person's fears and ensures that his or her rights are protected."

In past FBI interviews, subjects have complained of intrusive questions about religious beliefs and political opinions.

The ACLU/SC has offered to arrange free legal representation for all those whom the FBI seeks to interview. The organization also called on the FBI to inform interviewees of their options for legal representation.

"The FBI once again appears to be targeting people for questioning based on their religion, ethnicity, or national origin, even though it suspects them of no wrongdoing whatsoever," said Arulanantham. "This kind of profiling spreads fear and mistrust throughout the community."

The ACLU and other community groups have questioned the effectiveness of dragnet style interview programs that have taken place since the attacks of 9/11. Such interviews are reported to have alienated the very communities the government is attempting to gather information from.

LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California filed a request on Tuesday under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) seeking information about the recent immigration raids across Southern California.

The FOIA request, filed with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), was prompted by raids conducted by CBP roving patrols that resulted in the questioning and detentions of hundreds of Latino residents in Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles counties. The ACLU-SC has asked the CBP to explain their reasons for conducting the patrols and disclose details about whom the agency questioned, detained, and deported. The CBP has released no information to the public about how or why the raids were conducted except to state that they were based on "intelligence" and that they targeted people based on nationality.

"The information provided by the CBP has been limited at best and contradictory at worst," said Ranjana Natarajan, staff attorney with the ACLU of Southern California. "Given the confusion and fear surrounding the CBP's actions it is critical that the community have a clear understanding of what exactly took place. The community has been kept in the dark which has only heightened the sense of anxiety throughout the community."

Businesses, schools and even health clinics experienced a drastic decrease in community participation and commerce.

"There is no question that the raids spread fear and panic throughout the community," said Jim Mangia, director of St. John's Well Child and Family Center in Los Angeles. "People were afraid to go to work, send their children to school and even visit the doctor. Often times people don't realize that these sort of events have a ripple effect throughout the community."

The ACLU/SC's FOIA request asks the CBP to disclose, among other information:

' The total number of persons questioned and detained;

' The number of persons traveling by vehicle who were questioned;

' The total number of persons removed from the U.S., and the countries to which they were removed;

' Any records involving California state and local law enforcement involvement with the raids;

The ACLU of Southern California has set up a call line to gather information on the raids and encourages people who may have been stopped to call 213/977-5218.

PASADENA - In a victory for civil liberties, the Pasadena City Council today passed a resolution condemning the unconstitutional aspects of the USA-PATRIOT Act. By passing the resolution, the City of Pasadena, joins over 332 cities, counties and even states throughout the nation that have passed similar resolutions.

"This is a tremendous victory for civil liberties," said Ramona Ripston, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. "The City of Pasadena has taken a stand today by passing a resolution in support of civil liberties and critical of the USA-PATRIOT Act. Pasadena residents should be proud that their City Council stands on the side of over 59 million Americans in 41 states who believe we can be both safe and free."

"All across this country, people of all walks of life and of all political persuasions are continuing to voice concern about the expansion of government powers under this Administration," she continued.

The USA-PATRIOT Act was passed on October 26, 2001, just 45 days after the September 11th attacks. The 342-page piece of legislation was passed with little debate by the Members of Congress, most of whom did not even read the bill. The Act gives the Executive Branch sweeping new powers that weaken the American system of checks and balances that is designed to guard against government encroachment.

For more information on the USA-PATRIOT Act check the ACLU-SC's website: www.aclusocal.org