DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE STATEMENT REGARDING CENTER FOR
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS LAWSUIT

In response to today's class action lawsuit filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights in the matter of detainees being held by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Justice Department Spokeswoman Barbara Comstock issued the following statement:

"We are reviewing the lawsuit.

"It is important to remember that our efforts are aimed at preventing further terrorist attacks, safeguarding the lives of Americans and protecting our national security. As our efforts include detaining individuals who are in violation of our immigration laws, we have struck a proper balance between the rights of the detainees and our national security needs.

"Individuals taken into custody by the INS have been informed of their rights under the law. They are informed that they have a right to counsel and that they may contact their consulate. They are given a detainee handbook explaining their rights and responsibilities, facility visitation hours and special family visits. They are provided with a list of free legal service providers and given access to telephones, law libraries and other materials necessary to defend their case.

"The INS makes all reasonable efforts to provide key information to detainees in their spoken language and we have refrained from disclosing the names and locations of the detainees in order to safeguard national security, the public safety, the integrity of ongoing investigations as well as the personal privacy of the individuals involved.

"We take these allegations seriously. The Bureau of Prisons has a system for investigating such allegations and we are confident that they will do a thorough inquiry."

###

02-232