HUNDREDS of men of Middle Eastern descent have been detained in the United States, many on minor visa violations, after they complied with an anti-terrorism law ordering them to register with immigration authorities.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos and distress as men were separated from their families and jailed for overstaying a visa term, a common event in this nation of immigrants.

“What’s next? Concentration camps?” read one banner on Wednesday as thousands of Iranian Americans protested in Los Angeles; most of the detentions occurred in California.

Authorities are stretched by new rules and fears they could unwittingly contribute to terrorist attacks. The September 11 terrorists were Middle Eastern men who entered the country legally. District offices lack resources to enforce the “special registration” for males 16 or over who come from a long list of countries seen by the US Government as terrorist havens. By far the largest number of detentions, estimated by witnesses as exceeding 500, were in Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County in California, an area with many Iranian exiles.

One lawyer said that he saw Los Angeles authorities running out of handcuffs as they rounded up men trying to comply with a deadline on Monday for males from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Syria. Men from another 15 countries including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have to register by January 10.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association reported scattered detentions elsewhere. Authorities in Washington DC turned men away and told them to come back after the deadline because they could not handle the numbers.

Legal sources said they believed that the problem in southern California was because a new acting immigration chief was terrified of seeing his career ruined if he released the wrong person.

“I saw so many people in tears on Monday . . . What’s happening in America is outrageous and the world needs to know,” said Angelo Paparelli, a corporate immigration lawyer, who said that he was helping men to register pro bono because he was outraged.

The new rules are especially offensive to Pakistanis, whose President has been praised by the US for waging war against terrorism. An embassy spokesman said that Pakistanis had been singled out on entering America even before their country was added to the “special registration” list.

“Ultimately this is going to spread and our people will be affected,” an embassy spokesman said. “We understand security is paramount . . . but a user-friendly approach needs to be adopted.”

Crystal Williams, of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said that many of those detained believed they were legal because they had filed applications for permanent status a year ago and had work permits. “Chaos is the best way to describe the situation,” she said.

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