Please click this and help my rating:

January 23, 2004

BORDC ACTION ALERT: Recent Developments Make This Recess an Important Time to Contact Your Congresspeople

BORDC ACTION ALERT

Good News

On December 18th, two U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals issued decisions upholding the rights to counsel of detainees labeled by the Bush Administration as 'enemy combatants' and held indefinitely. The decisions are victories for the Constitution. The administration is expected to appeal, and in the first case, which applies to Jose Padilla, it may ask Congress to authorize the Executive Branch to designate U.S. citizens taken on U.S. soil "enemy combatants," further enhancing the power of the Executive Branch and limiting the power of the Judicial and Legislative Branches. In the second case, concerning the rights of detainees at the U.S. base in Guantanamo, the Administration may wait for the Supreme Court's decision. See summary.

Also on December 18th, Justice Department's Inspector General Glenn A. Fine released a report that details rampant abuse of post September 11 detainees at a Brooklyn, NY, detention center. Fine used videotapes for corroborating evidence of the abuse, which included slamming detainees' faces into walls, twisting their arms, hands, and fingers, stepping on their chains, and making verbal threats.

So-So News

Reports that "Special Registration" has ended are untrue. It is true that beginning December 2, 2003, men from 25 countries who have already registered do not need to reregister annually. Point of entry follow-up interviews are also suspended. Nevertheless, several parts of the Special Registration program remain. Read AILA's summary of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Special Registration program.

Bad News

On November 21, Congress passed an intelligence spending bill (H.R. 2417) that includes a section from the Domestic Security Enhancement Act (AKA "Patriot II"). The section enhances the FBI's use of national security letters to acquire records by expanding the definition of "financial institution" to include the U.S. postal service, travel agencies, car dealers, and other businesses whose "cash transactions have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax or regulatory matters." Briefly, national security letters require no judge and no congressional oversight. In fact, a "gag order" provision prevents reporting by the FBI, the Justice Department or the businesses that are required to turn over their records. Read article by Ryan Singel. Read speeches of House members who explain why they opposed the provision.

What You Can Do

Congress is in recess until January 20, 2004, and most members of Congress will spend time in their districts. It is an excellent time to organize group visits to your representative's or senators' district offices to express your views.

 

Bill of Rights Defense Committee
www.bordc.org; info@bordc.org
413-582-0110

Posted by Lance Brown at January 23, 2004 12:11 AM
Comments
Post a comment









Remember personal info?






Email this entry to:

Your email address:

Message (optional):

All contents of this site Copyright © 1996-2003 by Lance Brown for President in 2008. 
Please distribute and link freely; and please let us know by e-mailing editor@freedom2008.com.

Thank you very much for your visit.



Ring of Freedom & Liberty
[Previous 5] [Previous] [Skip 1] [Next] [Next 5] [List] [Join]