VOLUME No: 46 Issue No: 1

Washington, D.C. February 7, 2003

The Islamic Institute would like to extend its heartfelt condolences to the families of those brave and courageous astronauts that were aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. Their service to science, country and humanity will never be forgotten. In the comforting words of President George Bush, “The crew of the Shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth, yet we can pray that all are safely home.”


Morocco Enters Into Free Trade Talks

On January 21, U.S. business leaders met for the first round of meetings sponsored by the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Coalition to support the start of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA). With an $11 billion import market, and U.S. exports to Morocco averaging $475 million annually, it is clear that the U.S. economy will benefit significantly from the FTA. A free trade agreement with Morocco will provide increased expansion for U.S. products such as wheat, oilseeds and feed grains, and the area of energy, tourism, and the environment will face positive consequences as well. Over sixty member organizations have joined the U.S.-Morocco FTA Coalition. They have stated that not only will this agreement advance economic growth, increase living standards, and create jobs, but it also sends a message to other countries in the Middle East about the benefits of free trade.

"If successful, a free trade area with Morocco will create jobs and boost financial markets not only in the United States, but in Morocco as well,” said Grover Norquist who heads Americans for Tax Reform in Washington, DC. “In so doing, this policy will encourage other countries to do the same, and when markets open, freedom, democracy and prosperity follow.”


Democrats Plan to Filibuster Estrada Nomination

Miguel Estrada the nomination to the U.S Circuit Court of appeals was confirmed by the Senate Judiciary committee last week. Now top Democrats have threatened to filibuster the nomination when the vote arrives on the Senate floor. A filibuster, when a single senator or small group engage in protracted speech-making to hold the floor and prevent a vote from occurring, is an extreme tactic that is rarely used today. If Estrada is confirmed by the Senate he would be the First Hispanic Judge on the Appeals Court.

Louisiana Sen. John B. Breaux has told his fellow Democratic colleagues that he opposes the filibuster. Many Latino organizations including the League of United Latin American Citizens, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Latino Coalition along with White House Counsel Alberto Gonzalez have lobbied California Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein, but reports say the Democrats will attempt the filibuster even without the 41 democrats needed to sustain the filibuster.


New Jersey Lawmakers Propose Law on Human Cloning

In light of the President’s recent State of the Union pledge to ban all human cloning, the legislature of the state of New Jersey is debating a bill that would allow the development of cloned embryos to birth. While a late amendment to the bill does ban the creation of human clones, the definition of a clone is made after birth. The exact wording of the bill states that the “cloning of a human being” means the replication of a human individual by cultivating a cell with genetic material through the egg, embryo, fetal and newborn stages into a new human individual. This last stage is key to objections to the proposed bill. Because the bill allows for the complete development past birth, the required destruction does not involve fetal cells, but a fully developed human being.

Five New Countries Given Deadline for Special Registration Program

Male, nonimmigrant aliens who are nationals or citizens of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, or Kuwait, were born on or before February 24, 1987, and entered the U.S. on or before September 30, 2002, must register with the Immigration and Naturalization Service between February 24, 2003, and March 28, 2003.

Lawful visitors who are maintaining valid immigration status must register to preserve their legal status. If you are required to register and do not do so before this deadline, you may be considered to be out of status and may be subject to arrest, detention, fines and/or removal from the United States. Any future application for an immigration benefit from the United States may be adversely impacted. If you register after the deadline and/or are currently out of status, you may be subject to arrest, detention, fines and/or removal from the United States when you register. Decisions will be made on an individual basis, depending on the circumstances of each case. You may wish to
consult with an immigration attorney before registering to determine your immigration status, whether you are required to register, and the consequences of not registering.

You can find more information at:
www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/lawenfor/specialreg/index.htm.

EID AL-ADHA

The Islamic Institute would like to extend its sincere greetings and best wishes for a joyous Eid to all Muslims across the world. The Institute will be closed Tuesday, February the 11th, 2003 in observance of Eid Al-Adha the Muslim holiday commemorating the end of Hajj.

Eid Mubarak!