American Civil Liberties Union : Surveillance Society Clock

A few weeks ago the ACLU started it's Constitution Free Zone Campaign. Border agents have long had extra authority to perform searches and detain people as part of protecting the nation. As you might guess, the Bush administration is abusing this.

"The government says that “the border” — where there is a longstanding view that the Constitution does not fully apply — actually stretches 100 miles inland from the nation’s “external boundary.” And increasingly, we are seeing DHS vigorously utilize that authority."

"CBP has been setting up checkpoints far inland — on highways in states such as California, Texas and Arizona, and at ferry terminals in Washington State. Typically, the agents ask drivers and passengers about their citizenship. People are also reporting that even after they provide passports or state driver’s licenses, CBP continues to interrogate them and try to pressure them into permitting a search."

To make the point, the ACLU has a drawn a map showing a hundred miles inland of all borders. This includes all of Massachusetts. They further point out that nearly two-thirds of the US population lives in this zone.

I can't wait for Obama to fix this.