Israel is commenting on the controversy surrounding the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s detention of nmore than two dozen Israeli citizens in Missouri. There have been reports that over the last month, the detainees were held without bond for lengthy periods of time for questionable reasons. David Roat, Israel’s Deputy Consul General for the Midwest, says that’s not exactly the case. He says all teh Israeli nationals who were held were detained for visa violations. Some over-extended their stays, while others were working illegally. Roat says there was nothing sinister about the detentions, and that they were carried out in accordance with the laws regarding immigration and naturalization. He says Israel fully supports the moves the U.S. must make in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
