Claims US Security Regulations Cost Him His Job

A man fired last fall from his internship at a Bell Helicopter factory in Canada says he was unfairly dismissed from the company due to his heritage.

CBC News reports Jamie Vargas was born in Venezuela, one of several countries -- along with China, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and Vietnam -- whose citizens are banned by US law from working in companies that develop military weapons. The regulation applies regardless of whether those persons also hold Canadian citizenship.

Vargas says Bell told him poor work performance was the reason for his dismissal. He maintains he had no problems until the security rules came into play.

A Montreal-based civil rights group has taken up Vargas' cause. The Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations said Monday it's filing a civil rights complaint on behalf of the fired worker, seeking $110,000 in damages.

"ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) is creating new Maher Arars in Canada as a foreign government is making honest, hard-working Canadians into national security risks and economic 'enemy aliens' in their own country," said executive director Fo Niemi. Maher Arar is a Canadian citizen, who was arrested by US immigration officials and deported to Syria in 2002.

The Bell facility in Mirabel, Quebec is currently working on an $849 million US Army contract.

The helomaker has run into problems with the security regulations before. The company acknowledged earlier this month it had to reassign 24 employees to comply with US security restrictions, and that it asked for an exemption from the new rules... but was turned down by US authorities.

The Fort Worth, TX-based helicopter manufacturer did not immediately return calls seeking comment on Vargas' situation, according to CBC.

FMI: www.bellhelicopter.com