Expulsion of Libyans Under Study by U.S.

WASHINGTON —  The Justice Department will consider whether some of the 2,000 to 3,000 Libyan students in the United States should be expelled, Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III said Monday.

At a news conference, Meese said he will discuss the possibility “sometime in the next couple of weeks” with the FBI and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, two agencies of the Justice Department.

“I will review with them whether this is necessary or desirable,” Meese said when asked whether the United States would follow a step already taken by Britain.

Meese said his review represents “no change at all” in the U.S. position, but he added that “it is a matter we will look into in view of the action of our European allies.”

Meese said the subject came up last week when he met with the law enforcement ministers of seven nations of the European Communities at The Hague. He said there was a consensus for cutting back on Libyan embassy personnel as well as for considering general limits on the Libyan population in their countries.