As many as 50 people, including some South Asians, were arrested in New York on Monday after they formed a human chain to block the entrance to a federal building, protesting against President George W Bush's 'occupation of Iraq' and 'the war at home' against immigrants.

About 30 organisations, including Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM), a South Asian activist group, participated in the peaceful protest christened 'civil disobedience'.

The protestors claimed that despite Bush's declaration that the war against Iraq is over, the war against immigrants, people of colour and poor people at home, launched by the Immigration and Naturalization Service has just begun.

"We refuse to abide by the rules of a repressive regime. This is just not acceptable," one of the protesters Hyun Lee told rediff.com.

The protesters were arrested from outside the Federal Plaza that houses offices of many important federal agencies, including the INS, as a few hundred people waited in line outside the plaza for entry into the INS office.

Many shouted anti-INS slogans. The police officials allegedly pinned down the protesters, many of whom were dragged or carried off while in handcuffs, Lee said.

Loria Limbal from Brooklyn was among the protesters. She said that everyday the INS comes up with new ways and reasons to profile people on the bases of race and detain people of color who have nothing to do with the war against Iraq, or terrorism.

"These are innocent community people that the feds are targeting. We can't afford to remain silent anymore," she said.

Lee said that most likely those arrested would be released later in the night or on Tuesday with appearance tickets, meaning that they would have to appear before a judge as and when the police press charges.

No policeman could be immediately reached for comments regarding charges and when the protesters would be released.

"This is just the beginning, just a spark" said Monami Maulik, a protester and DRUM activist.

"The goal is to give a voice to the millions of New Yorkers who oppose the occupation of Iraq and the war at home, but have been silenced and shut out of the public debate," Maulik said.

"We want to send a message to the people that they need not be afraid to say 'no' to war and racism," she said.