ACLU Exposes Homeland Security Enforced ‘Constitution Free Zone’

constitutionFreeZoneSmallAs reported by Radley Balko in a recent Reason article, the ACLU has finally entered the fray regarding internal suspicionless Homeland Security checkpoints.

On October 22nd, the ACLU kicked off a public campaign to draw attention to the proliferation of these checkpoints that are usually located within the 100-mile Constitution Free Zone that rings this once-free country.

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Transparency Not A Priority In The Department of Homeland Security

FOIANOT2Approximately two months after the Department of Homeland Security setup a suspicionless internal checkpoint near mile post 146 along State Route 86 in Southern Arizona, I submitted a FOIA or Freedom of Information Act request to U.S. Customs & Border Protection’s Washington, D.C. office. The specific information I’m seeking includes:

  • A copy of the Border Patrol’s field manual for operating internal suspicionless checkpoints
  • A copy of the Border Patrol study used to justify establishing a checkpoint along SR86 in Southern Arizona near mile marker 146
  • A copy of checkpoint summary reports regarding seizures at the checkpoint since its inception in early 2008
  • A copy of “Immigration Law”, a DOJ publication related to immigration case law

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Homeland Security Checkpoints Spread Into Washington State

cpstop4Thanks to several readers who recently brought this to my attention, I’ve attached the text of three articles below regarding the proliferation of internal suspicionless Homeland Security checkpoints in Washington State. I have previously highlighted information regarding the use of Homeland Security checkpoints at Ferry docks in Northern Washington State but this latest intrusion spreads the Homeland Security cancer even further into the interior of the country.

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More Homeland Security Detainee Abuse

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Over the past few months, there have been several news articles written highlighting poor conditions in ICE detention facilities across the country. Detention facilities that house in excess of 30,000 detainees at any given time. The poor conditions, which include criminally negligent health care or the lack thereof, have resulted in the death of several detainees. The most recent case is highlighted below in a New York Times article written by Nina Bernstein.

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Homeland Security Says Prove Your Citizenship On Demand Or Face Deportation

detentionIn light of suspicionless Homeland Security checkpoints being conducted in the interior of the country, the story depicted below is especially disturbing.

It appears that well over 100 U.S. Citizens were recently discovered sitting in Homeland Security Detention facilities around the country awaiting deportation orders after being denied access to counsel.

According to the organization that conducted the 2006 study, the 125 individuals idenitifed as having credible claims of U.S. citizenship are most likely just the tip of the iceberg given the huge number of individuals detained every year.

A quote from ICE spokeswoman Kice sums up the current state of affairs:

“The burden of proof is on the individual to show they’re legally entitled to be in the United States”

Keep in mind that this story isn’t about individuals attempting to enter the country. This story is about individuals already here. As such, let the implications of that statement sink in for just a minute….

“The burden of proof is on the individual to show they’re legally entitled to be in the United States”

Now imagine taking a stroll around your neighborhood. Perhaps you’re out walking your dog or just hiking over to the nearest grocery store. Suddenly you’re approached by burly men in green uniforms with guns and federal badges who demand that you prove your citizenship.

Don’t think it could happen? You may want to ask residents in and around Phoenix, San Diego, & Los Angeles whether or not it could happen.

I guess that simple question regarding citizenship status being imposed on travelers absent reasonable suspicion in the interior of the country away from any international border isn’t quite so simple after all.

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When All Else Fails, Silence The Messenger….

censorshipAs many readers are aware, I’ve been documenting my recent experiences at a suspicionless internal Homeland Security checkpoint located near mile marker 146 on SR86 in Southern Arizona. I’ve also been reporting these experiences to readers of this blog amongst other places.

As a result of documenting these encounters and reporting on them, there are currently several efforts underway by various individuals and organizations to either shutdown my website or force me to remove content previously posted. This post provides information regarding one such recent attempt.

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DHS Backs Away from Proposed Permanent Southern Arizona Checkpoint

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According to the Arizona Daily Star article included below, The Department of Homeland Security is temporarily backing off from plans to build a permanent suspicionless federal roadblock on a Southern Arizona highway.

Initially, the Border Patrol had proposed placing an interim four million dollar roadblock facility just North of Arivaca near kilometer post 50 on I-19. After a huge uproar from local residents and governing bodies, including the Pima County Board of Supervisors, the Border Patrol is now stating they will maintain their temporary facility near kilometer post 42 for the indefinite future while plans for a permanent facility are re-assessd.

I’ve included a link to the article below, along with the full text. While reading the article, keep the following points in mind:

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Pima County Supervisors Oppose Permanent Checkpoint

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The controversy surrounding a proposed permanent Homeland Security checkpoint in Southern Arizona continues to grow as people begin to understand the true costs associated with such an installation. For background information, I first reported on this proposed checkpoint on July 6, 2007.

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Work & Travel – Casualties in the U.S. War of Terror

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Department of Homeland Security bureaucrats are currently in the process of promulgating rules that will fundamentally alter the American experience – and not for the better.

In the not too distant future, Americans will no longer be able to legally work in their own country without the permission of the federal government. Similarly, Americans won’t be able to legally travel by means of an airline common carrier without government issued identification AND explicit permission from Homeland Security.

In other words, the individual right to work and to travel, rights Americans have enjoyed since before the existence of the federal government, are being transformed before our eyes into mere privileges. Privileges that can be granted or denied at the whim of anonymous bureaucrats with little opportunity to challenge, and in some cases, to even know why.

For those who have been confused about the definition of a police state, it’s now staring you in the face.

Will you welcome it with open arms or seek to restore the limited role of government to the American experience?

TSA VIPR Squad Harassing Bus Riders in Indianapolis

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As recently reported in the Rational Review, A TSA VIPR Squad consisting of plainclothes inspectors, blue-gloved security officers, behavior detection officers, and federal air marshals descended on bus stops in downtown Indianapolis earlier this month. Local IndyGo officials cooperated with the TSA while VIPR agents patted down the public and searched luggage absent reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing.

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