Report: 314,000 Targeted In Federal Sweep

DETROIT -- Federal agents will begin arresting thousands of men Monday as part of the investigation into terrorist activity, Detroit television station WDIV-TV reported.

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Arab-American Leaders Concerned

According to a memo from the deputy U.S. Attorney General's Office, WDIV-TV reported Thursday, agents will begin rounding up men living in the United States illegally. The document was obtained by the Washington Post. Authorities will first go after men from countries with ties to terrorist organizations.

"That sends a very wrong message that might invite injustices against many people," said Imad Hamad of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

The operation has been dubbed "The Initiative," according to WDIV-TV. The sweep calls for the arrest of 314,000 absconders, people facing deportation who have failed to surrender. Included in the group are several thousand people referred to as "priority absconders" who might have information about terrorist organizations.

All of the people arrested will be questioned about terrorist activity and the information will be put into a database.

Arab-American leaders are concerned that Arabs are being singled out, in the face of profiling and other backlash since the Sept. 11 terrorist attack.

The government mailed letters in November to hundreds of Arab men asking them to voluntarily submit to questioning.

According to the memo, the new sweep encourages agents to treat the men they apprehend like criminal suspects. They will also push the government's million-dollar reward offer for information leading to the capture of known terrorist suspects, and programs that grant citizenship to anyone who cooperates in the terrorism probe.

Under "The Initiative," suspects will not be offered any guarantees, according to the memo.