Prometheus 6

The ACLU on Patriot II

One of the things that has every sane person paranoid is the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003, alias Patriot II. The ACLU, as one would expect, is militating against it.

They've got a section by section analysis that it would do everyone good to read. At minimum their fact sheet should be required, so everyone has a clear idea of what we have at stake in this next election.

Under Patriot II

• The government would no longer be required to disclose the identity of anyone, even an American citizen, detained in connection with a terror investigation ? until criminal charges are filed, no matter how long that takes (sec 201).
• Current court limits on local police spying on religious and political activity would be repealed (sec. 312).
• The government would be allowed to obtain credit records and library records without a warrant (secs. 126, 128, 129).
• Wiretaps without any court order for up to 15 days after terror attack would be permissible. (sec. 103).
• Release of information about health/safety hazards posed by chemical and other plants would be restricted (sec. 202).
• The reach of an already overbroad definition of terrorism would be expanded ? individuals engaged in civil disobedience could risk losing their citizenship (sec. 501); their organization could be subject to wiretapping (secs. 120, 121) and asset seizure (secs. 428, 428).
• Americans could be extradited, searched and wiretapped at the behest of foreign nations, whether or not treaties allow it (sec. 321, 322).
• Lawful immigrants would be stripped of the right to a fair deportation hearing and federal courts would not be allowed to review immigration rulings (secs. 503, 504).

posted by Prometheus 6 at 4/22/2003 08:18:34 PM |