"The Justice Department announced Wednesday that it will require thousands of students, workers and other men from five Muslim countries who are temporarily residing in the United States to be fingerprinted and photographed, the latest step in its program to register visitors from countries linked to terrorism."

The program applies to all male citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Syria, "and other people suspected of links to terror."

Muslim and Arab-American groups argue the plan amounts to ethnic profiling. They point out that none of the Sept. 11 terrorists came from those countries, and only Sudan has ties to Al Qaeda.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association also criticized the plan, saying "They're telling us this will make us safe from terrorists. But the terrorists aren't the ones who are going to come forward and register."

An unnamed Justice Department official said the list of originating countries whose male citizens would be subject to the program "would probably grow."

"Under the new measure, which takes effect Nov. 15, men ages 16 and older from the five nations must register with a U.S. immigration officer by Dec. 16. They must present travel documents and proof of residence, such as school registrations, and be interviewed, fingerprinted and photographed. They must check in with authorities once a year. The measure applies only to visitors, not political asylum applicants or immigrants who have "green cards" that grant them permanent legal residence."