Film: Americans on Hold

The Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at NYU School of Law Invites you to the the film Launch of Americans on Hold Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 6-8 PM Furman Hall Room 216, 245 Sullivan Street, NYU School of Law Screening:

Americans on Hold is a timely and powerful documentary film that exposes the U.S. government’s use of discriminatory profiling in the name of national security, and its impact on South Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, and Muslim community members. Through the personal stories of Zuhair Mahd and Anila Ali, the film reveals the discriminatory profiling at the heart of both citizenship delays and border-crossing detentions and delays.

Ali, a teacher, mother, and community organizer originally from Pakistan, received her American citizenship in 2002, but continues to experience humiliating and invasive treatment by Customs and Border Protection officials as a consequence of her national origin.

Mahd, a blind adaptive technology specialist from Jordan, waged and won a five-year legal struggle against the Department of Homeland Security in his effort to become a U.S. citizen. In the process, he was repeatedly interrogated and pressured by the FBI to become an informant.

Following the screening, the audience will be invited to speak directly with Zuhair Mahd through an interactive video-chat.  The event will conclude with a discussion about profiling in the name of national security with: Prakash Khatri, former Ombudsman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Monami Maulik, Executive Director of Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM). Smita Narula, Faculty Director of the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHRGJ). Moderated by Amna Akbar, CHRGJ Clinic Fellow.

The event will be followed by a brief reception. Please RSVP to Kelly Ryan at ryank@exchange.law.nyu.edu to be guaranteed entrance.  For more information about the film, please visit: www.americansonhold.org

KJ