Story on Arab Americans After 9/11

“The People Perceived as a Threat to Security: Arab Americans Since September 11” by Randa A. Kayyali of George Mason looks at the status of Arab Americans after 9/11.  Since the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, Arab Americans have regularly been featured in the press as a group “of interest” to many federal agencies, particularly the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Yet government security agencies have recruited them for their language skills — the FBI has hired 195 Arabic linguists since 9/11 although other agencies, such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), have not released the number of new hires. Despite demand, the number of recruits is low due to bureaucratic problems and the difficulties Arab Americans face in getting top-level security clearances. Similar to other US immigrant groups in the past, they are viewed as suspect simply because of their origin. Although the term “Arab American” is often used, it remains misunderstood. Who exactly is an Arab American? Are all Arab Americans Muslim? Has the immigration rate of Arab Americans decreased as a result of 9/11? What has been the net fall-out effect of 9/11 on this group? This article provides definitions, look at flow data from recent years, and examine the trend of immigration and security policies affecting Arab Americans.  Click here to read the article.

KJ