Story perspectives

Book Documents FBI Islamophobia Monitoring Since the 1960s

9/4/2026

Summary

Story summary

Journalist Rozina Ali released her book *Seasons of Fury* tracing Islamophobia in the United States.
The book documents FBI monitoring of Muslim and Arab groups beginning in the 1960s.
It also details post-9/11 surveillance programs targeting Muslim communities.
Ali cites Muslim politicians Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, a New York mayor and a Michigan Senate hopeful.
She notes senior adviser Laura Loomer urged a total ban on Muslims and Islam in America.

History

Historical Context

The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, ended national-origin quotas, spurring a surge of Muslim immigration. The FBI, responding to perceived security risks, allocated $2.5 million in 1970 to monitor newly arrived Muslim and Arab organizations. Rozina Ali’s 2024 book *Seasons of Fury* links that early surveillance to contemporary targeting of politicians Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and activist Laura Loomer’s anti-Muslim proposals. The legacy of the 1965 policy continues shaping U.S. counter-terrorism law, prompting ongoing debates over civil liberties and community trust.

1 of 2

Story summary

Journalist Rozina Ali released her book *Seasons of Fury* tracing Islamophobia in the United States.
The book documents FBI monitoring of Muslim and Arab groups beginning in the 1960s.
It also details post-9/11 surveillance programs targeting Muslim communities.
Ali cites Muslim politicians Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, a New York mayor and a Michigan Senate hopeful.
She notes senior adviser Laura Loomer urged a total ban on Muslims and Islam in America.

1 / 2