A federal judge who endorsed “suspicion-less” searches of laptops, cameras and cell phones at the border has set up a possible Supreme Court showdown challenging what critics call “Constitution-free zones” and the Obama administration’s dragnet approach to national security.
A decision by Judge Edward Korman upholding the federal government’s right to search travelers’ electronic devices at or near the border conflicts with a similar ruling in California. That ruling requires a “reasonable suspicion” of criminal activity before agents can confiscate and examine personal photos, laptops and files. Korman’s ruling does not.
“I think Americans are justifiably becoming increasingly surprised and even outraged by the extent to which the national security state seems to be monitoring and collecting information about us all,” said ACLU Attorney Catherine Crump. “We think that having a purely suspicion-less policy is wrong, because it leaves border agents with no standards at all to follow. That opens the door that people will be [targeted] for inappropriate reasons.”
The ACLU originally challenged the administration’s policy, which can be applied anywhere within 100 miles of the border, after U.S. Customs agents stopped student Pascal Abidor on a train traveling from Canada to New York. After noticing Abidor had two passports — not uncommon for journalists and those with dual citizenship — agents asked to see his laptop. Since Abidor was a student of Middle Eastern affairs, his computer contained photos of political rallies held by Hamas and Hezbollah, known terrorist groups.
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What the article doesn’t say is that any place in the US within 100 miles of a border OR coastline is considered to be a “Constitution Free” zone. Considering that a majority of the United States population lives within 100 miles of a coastline, it’s safe to say that we have no more Constitutional Rights. The question now is if we have no Rights, why in the fuck are we paying taxes? Remember the whole ‘Taxation without representation’ thing that pissed our Forefathers off so bad?
Maybe it’s time for another Tea Party – hard tea, that is.
That’s about 197 million people.
More than half the people in the U.S.
Considered slaves by the feds, without any rights.
One might think that “the people” aught to start waking up and violently resist.
As much as I hate to say it, there simply is no other option at this point.
“America is at that awkward stage. It’s too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.”
Yeah, but if you start early then you don’t have to stay out late. Us older folks need our sleep. ;-}
High octane Tea.
You know, with lead added.
Wow!
Weasel Zippers gave you a hat tip for this article.
You’re getting famous.
Once you start gaining attention, you best watch your six.