The Council on American Islamic Relations [CAIR] in Pennsylvania is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to “help” them facilitate Hajj travel, especially regarding Muslims returning to the United States.
Hajj is the journey observant Muslims make to Mecca, the birthplace of Mohammed.
According to the Philadelphia CAIR website:
“This week, CAIR-PA staff met with Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection officers…The homeland security officers have asked CAIR-PA to disseminate information to hajj travelers on how to make the process easier for everyone. In a couple of weeks, CAIR-PA will release a hajj travel guide focusing on returning to the U.S. without hassle…CAIR-PA is pleased to have this partnership with the Department of Homeland Security as it enables positive representation for the Muslim community with airport security officials.” [source, http://pa.cair.com/civil-rights/hs-hajj-travel/]
Note: In attempting to get the DHS take on this controversy we contacted its press office and were greeted by, "...you cannot leave a message because this mailbox is full...”
Yes today is Columbus Day, a minor holiday, but this is the DHS, the cabinet level agency which is principally charged with preventing domestic terrorism. This prompts the question, has Janet Napolitano’s DHS worked out an agreement with our adversaries that they will observe our holidays, or is this simply another example of dysfunction at DHS?