EDITORIAL
Justice terrorism hunt casts too wide a net

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft seems to have no qualms about the harsh treatment of immigrants detained in the post-Sept. 11 hunt for terrorists. That's troubling because true justice must work as hard to protect the innocent as it does to punish the guilty.

Rounding up throngs of immigrants based on their nationality or religion, and then taking months to weed out the innocent, is poor policing.

A report by the Justice Department's inspector general has nailed down abuses of immigrants — mostly muslim men who have been detained on visa and other immigration violations. Tomorrow, the House Judiciary Committee wants some answers from Ashcroft regarding the report's findings. We'll certainly be tuning in.

According to the report, many Muslim immigrants were locked down virtually round the clock in leg irons and had to sleep under bright lights. They found it hard if not impossible to contact lawyers or family members, and some were abused by guards.

Plus, it took three months for the FBI to determine whether detainees had links to terrorists when, according to the report, it should have taken a matter of days to clear and deport the innocent.

A spokeswoman for the Justice Department says the agency makes no apologies for "finding every legal way possible to protect the American public from further terrorist attacks."

Well, if they won't apologize, we will. We're sorry that immigrants guilty of nothing more than overstaying their visas are denied due process. We're sorry that they have no means to protect themselves against the expanded surveillance and detention powers hastily bestowed upon law enforcement.

And we're sorry that the government isn't more sorry. Tracking down suspected terrorists is a legitimate mission, but don't just cast a wide net and let the victims flap around until you figure out what to do with them.