Going Off The Deep End

Via the Cathie From Canada blog, I found the latest in US immigration stupidity.

Two US citizens are being denied entry into the United States after a "lengthy" stay in Pakistan. (Where, presumably, they have relatives)

Federal authorities said Friday that the men, both Lodi residents, would not be allowed back into the country unless they agreed to FBI interrogations in Pakistan.

I see, so if your skin colour is wrong, you must be interrogated by the FBI before you are allowed to return to the United States? That's certainly the optics of this situation.

Muhammad Ismail, a 45-year-old naturalized citizen born in Pakistan, and his 18-year-old son, Jaber Ismail, who was born in the United States, have not been charged with a crime. However, they are the uncle and cousin of Hamid Hayat, a 23-year-old Lodi cherry packer who was convicted in April of supporting terrorists by attending a Pakistani training camp.

Oh, really? So, by inference, since relative X was convicted of something, these people are guilty of an offense? Brilliant detectoring there people.

Just to round things out, we get another glimpse into how the US is using the "no fly" list to restrict the liberty of their citizens:

McGregor Scott, the U.S. attorney for California's eastern district, confirmed Friday that the men were on the no-fly list and were being kept out of the country until they agreed to talk to federal authorities.

Oh, I see. So, US citizenship is conditional now? Your right to return home depends on whether or not the FBI thinks you did something bad while you were abroad? I believe in most courts, an application for a warrant under similar circumstances would be tossed out as being a "fishing expedition".

...and people wonder why I'm so unimpressed with Harper's sycophantic cuddling with BushCo?