Under a decision by Attorney General John Ashcroft, Illegal immigrants could be held indefinitely without bond if their cases could present national security concerns.

“Such national security considerations clearly constitute a reasonable foundation for the exercise of my discretion to deny release on bond,” Ashcroft said in his 19-page opinion.

This decision comes after concerns were raised that illegal immigrants such as non-Haitians considered to be a security threat, including Pakistanis and Palestinians, might enter the U.S. from Haiti as illegal aliens.

Now, no illegal immigrants will be released on bond while their cases are decided by immigration judges.