Local Homeland Security Officials No-Show at Muslim Town Hall Meeting in CA

December 21, 2004

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-muslim21dec21,1,5062369.story

On December 21, 2004 the Los Angeles Times reported, "Muslim American groups from Southern California held a town hall meeting Monday to discuss with federal officials what they call unfair targeting of Muslim travelers and immigrants in the wake of 9/11. Nearly 500 people attended the meeting, held at a La Mirada hotel. But not everyone on the coalition's guest list showed up. A representative of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said that a week ago he invited officials from the Department of Homeland Security, including the local heads of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Transportation Security Administration. The officials declined, said Omar Zaki, director of government relations for CAIR's office in Anaheim. The officials said that their local offices handle only enforcement and do not set policy, Zaki said."