According to a federal report released by the online publication The Intercept and cited by numerous media outlet, Dearborn has the second highest number of U.S. residents on the government’s Terrorist Screening Database, a watch list of terrorists and suspected terrorists.

About 96,500 people live in Dearborn, while 3,858,000 people live in Los Angeles. But the federal government suspects there are more people in Dearborn than L.A. who are potential terrorists.

The thought is unfathomable. All media outlets who reported on Dearborn’s disproportionate presence on the watch list speculated that it is because of the city’s large Arab and Muslim communities. 

The federal government has yet to comment. 

Dearborn is not a nest for terrorists; and if there are suspected terrorists in the city, let the government investigate them and then clear them or try them. But it is unacceptable to suspect that an entire community is terrorist because of the faith and/or ethnicity of its citizens. 

Dearborn is a harbor for innovation, diversity and tolerance. 

We are not terrorists. We are productive Americans— doctors, lawyers, artists and students.

While being on the classified watch list carries no legal ramifications— for now— the news that Dearborn is second on the list is disastrous for the city and the community.

Businesses and corporations might reconsider investing in a city that has a reputation for producing terrorists. Shoppers and diners might avoid Dearborn’s retail stores and restaurants. Families might consider moving out of the city. Racists and bigots will have more hateful ammunition with which to attack our community.

Michigan elected officials also have a political and moral responsibility to defend and protect their constituents in Dearborn.

Politicians have come to our community and raised millions of dollars from Arab American donors. They should at least defend themselves— stating that they are not taking money from terrorists and suspected terrorists.

But since our local leaders have remained silent, we must take action ourselves.

We call on our community organizations to boycott all federal law enforcement agencies and suspend all meetings with U.S. officials until this matter is cleared.