Chances are you now live in a ‘Constitution Free Zone’.
US Federal District Judge Edward Korman, has reaffirmed an Obama admin policy that grants officials the authority to search Americans’ laptops and other electronics without a warrant, citing a controversial premise that makes citizens within 100 miles of the border eligible for a warrantless police search.
The decision came in Tuesday, more than 3 years after the ACLU filed suit against the policy.
Almost two-thirds of the population (197.4 million people) live within 100 miles of the US border.
Next it will be 200 miles from the border, then 300 and then only people that will retain their rights are those that are making up these totalitarian laws!
ACLU attorney, Catherine Crump, had this to say about this controversial ruling:
“We’re disappointed in today’s decision, which allows the government to conduct intrusive searches of Americans’ laptops and other electronics at the border without any suspicion that those devices contain evidence of wrongdoing,” she said.
“Suspicionless searches of devices containing vast amounts of personal information cannot meet the standard set by the Fourth Amendment… Unfortunately, these searches are part of a broader pattern of aggressive government surveillance that collects information on too many innocent people, under lax standards, and without adequate oversight.”
This nonsense makes my blood boil.
District Judge Edward Korman, a US federal judge, has reaffirmed an Obama administration policy granting officials the authority to search Americans’ laptops, citing a controversial premise that makes citizens within 100 miles of the border eligible for a police check.
District Judge Edward Korman made his ruling in New York on Tuesday, more than three years after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed suit. The ACLU claimed that – since Americans put so much of their lives on their computers, cell phones, and other devices – border officials should have reasonable suspicion before sifting through someone’s personal files.
Attorneys argued that searches conducted without reasonable suspicion are a violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable search and seizure.
Not so, according to Judge Korman. In his decision Tuesday he argued that the area 100 miles inland falls under a “border exemption.”
“Laptops have only come into widespread use in the twenty-first century. Prior to that time, lawyers, photographers, and scholars managed to travel overseas and consult with clients, take photographs, and conduct scholarly research,” wrote Korman.
“No one ever suggested the possibility of a border search had a chilling effect on his or her First Amendment rights. While it is true that laptops make overseas work more convenient, the precaution plaintiffs may choose to take to ‘mitigate’ the alleged harm associated with the remote possibility of a border search are simply among the many inconveniences associated with international travel.”
The federal government has long conducted searches on travelers entering and leaving the US, but Congress expanded that policy by creating the Department of Homeland Security and setting up at least 33 checkpoints inside the country where people are stopped and asked to prove their citizenship.
The trouble is, the ACLU noted, that almost two-thirds of the population (197.4 million people) live within 100 miles of the US border. New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, and dozens of other major metropolitan areas fall under the so-called “exemption” zone.
The civil-liberties advocacy group filed suit in 2010 on behalf of Pascal Abidor, a 29-year-old Islamic Studies student whose laptop computer was held for 11 days when he was traveling by Amtrak rail from Canada to his parents’ home in New York.
Abidor was sitting in the train’s cafe car when an officer forced him to take out his laptop then “ordered Mr. Abidor to enter his password,” the suit claimed. The computer contained images of Hamas and Hezbollah rallies and the agents, unmoved by Abidor’s assertion the images were related to his studies, handcuffed the young man and kept him detained for three hours, questioning him numerous times.
Department of Homeland Security data indicates that 6,500 people had their devices search between 2008 and 2010 alone.
Here’s what the ACLU attorney, Catherine Crump, had to say about this controversial ruling
“We’re disappointed in today’s decision, which allows the government to conduct intrusive searches of Americans’ laptops and other electronics at the border without any suspicion that those devices contain evidence of wrongdoing,” she said.
“Suspicionless searches of devices containing vast amounts of personal information cannot meet the standard set by the Fourth Amendment… Unfortunately, these searches are part of a broader pattern of aggressive government surveillance that collects information on too many innocent people, under lax standards, and without adequate oversight.”
The absolute malicious stripping away of our rights has got to stop, folks, we must stand-up and fight back against this at every turn! The future of or Republic is at stake and many want to bury their heads in the sand… Wake Up!!!
I think we need to get in all their business. What they eat, wear, work, watch on tv, who they call, what they say, what they drive, did you cut your grass & so on. I wonder how much they would take after a while? Who will start the next war ??? This is the USA & if you don’t like it, no one is stopping you from leaving.
Shoot the TRAITOR
I’ll clue you in to something. Since the Patriot Act and then the new one, I think it’s called the DDAA, the entire USA is Constitution free zone! If you don’t believe me, get a copy of the two documents and read them. The Federal government can suspend your rights for any reason at any time, with no recourse, no appeal, for as long as they want! I’m not joking! Don’t take my word, read the two laws! If the government ever thinks they can get and keep the upper hand over the people of this country, they WILL act! The Second Amendment, the militias and the armed citizens in this country are the only reason we don’t live in a total police state right now. But look around you! The police are becoming more belligerent, the law makers more bold about passing restrictive laws against gun owners and very few people are fighting back!
You are right and the 2nd Act is called the NDAA(You were close). The US Government can now legally detain you indefinitely without any reason what so ever and for as long as they want! Welcome to the NEW
COMMUNIST USA!!!
The future of or Republic is at stake and many want to bury their heads in the sand… Wake Up!!!
After 9/11, Congress gave the Department of Homeland Security the right to use some of its powers deeper within the country, and now DHS has set up at least 33 internal checkpoints where they stop people, question them and ask them to prove citizenship, according to the ACLU. Looks like its a BUSH admin policy! This page has not clue about the truth
May I just say what a comfort to find someone who actually understands what they are talking about on the
net. You actually know how to bring an issue to
light and make it important. A lot more people must look at this and understand this side
of your story. I was surprised you are not more popular since
you most certainly possess the gift.
Monte says:
“You are right and the 2nd Act is called the NDAA(You were close). The US Government can now legally detain you indefinitely without any reason what so ever and for as long as they want! Welcome to the NEW
COMMUNIST USA!!!”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/judge-reaffirms-constitution-free-zones-100-miles-inside-u-s-borders/comment-page-6/#comment-394142
that judge needs removed from the bench
this is illegial and the judge that ok’ed it should be removed from the bench and disbarred from ever practicing law ever again in the USA.
Well this finally establishes a defined border.
All illegals passing the 100 mile mark fall under States rights.