The law, on its face, aimed to “deter terrorism, provide justice for victims, [and] provide for an effective death penalty” for culprits of terrorism. However, its enforcement disproportionately targeted Middle Eastern and Muslim subjects, the very same demographic Connie Chung, the media at large, and most Americans presumed to be terrorists. The vast majority of designated foreign terrorist groups were of a Muslim character or based in the Middle East. Muslim Americans who traveled back to their homelands, sent remittances to support family members, or were involved with religious or political organizations found themselves being profiled or suspected of “abetting terrorism,” while immigrants were viewed with heightened suspicion.

Khaled A. Beydoun, American Islamophobia_ Unde…, loc. 259