Creepy Homeland Security "Electronic Monitoring" Program on Immigrants

[Pachamama]

Just was listening to a report on NPR....gave me chills just listening to it...The report talked about how the Homeland Security Dept. has about 1700 immigrants who are currently applying for citizenship or who are having their immigration status reviewed, wear electronic "monitoring" ankle bracelets. They defend the program by saying these people have the option of being detained or being able to be free in public, earn a living and be with family and friends. One man who is wearing this ankle bracelet has to rush home and cannot be out between 6PM-6AM.

I reccommend everyone take a chance to listen to this report. The thing that gave me chills is that I have a direct sense that this is the Beta test for a much bigger program. Traditionally such ankle bracelets are ofcourse for convicted criminals (sex offenders for example) who are on parole. But the report went on to saying that the Homeland Security Dept. seeks in the future the possibility of all non-US citizens being required to wear these. Can you imagine? Sure, all those tourists from Europe and elsewhere are just going to be so thrilled to arrive at JFK or SFO airport for a vacation and then have an ankle bracelet strapped to them. Think I'm exaggerating? Listen to the report and decide for yourself. The thing that also struck me since I have absolutely no trust of this administration's "real" agenda, is that I really can't help but feel this is testing for bigger things to come. I don't like this at all. None of us should.

[elehhhhna]

1. They're already floating the idea of chips for tourists!

[kk897]

2. did it say what the criteria for the selection for this program were?

This is indeed freaky, my friend! I can't believe they're talking about putting it on ALL immigrants?! I agree that this could lead to much broader restrictions...

Is it me, or does it seem like Bushco has stepped up the fascism since re-taking the Oval Office? It feels like they've got a checklist for world domination, and they're busy ticking off the boxes: 1. Purge government of malcontents. Check. 2. Foster general unease in MIddle East. Check. 3. Show the world how strong we are by re-starting nuclear testing. Check. 4. Piss off the Russians. Check. 4. Middle stage of progress toward police state. Check. 5. Cripple the economy so that there's a class of peasants who will make terrific cannon fodder for our wars...

[Eugene]

5. The report said ALL non-citizens

Homeland Security sees this an alternative
to locking them all up.

[Pachamama]

6. Correct, they said ALL NON-CITIZENS, which is a pretty broad statement

and shocked me because there was no criteria mentioned and that could be interpreted to meaning exactly what it says and that encompasses Tourists visiting our country.

I'm sure they will come out with a statement saying that they didn't mean tourists (because they don't want to affect the tourism business and the economic impact there) but I can't help feeling that was another freudian like slip by this government by a low level person who is stating what their plans are, but then they quickly "correct" the official stance on things.

Like I said, I thought it was a very creepy report and program that the Homeland Security is running and I believe that its a test program for bigger plans. Someone earlier in this thread mentioned the "chips" idea. I hadn't heard that one, but it seems to fit in line with their desire to monitor the movements and whereabouts of people. My concern is that we could find in the future certain "groups" of people being singled out (ie. Muslims?) if there are future terrorist attacks on US Soil.

[sweetheart]

7. As an alternative to imprisonment... ok... but for tourists?

Better tell your dignified foreign friends to enjoy a last US visit
now, as i'm quite certain that none of the folks i know in europe will
visit the US if they have to wear a dog collar on their leg... no
fikkin' way.

The worst is that this sets up the scene for reciprocity, that i'll have
to wear an ankle tag, like a prisoner, to live in the UK. This is evil,
pure and simple.... i'm sorry, its increasingly looking like guns are
the only way to fight the republicans.

[Pachamama]

8. No specific criteria mentioned, but that might be intentional

My point is exactly that its creepy for what it isn't saying and that seems to be the case in everything with this administration these days. From their enemy combatant arguments, to their defending of torture and its definition, to many of the sneak and peak elements of the "Patriot Act" etc. that are all chiseling away at our constitution and our civil liberties.

Even take a look at the recent "Real ID" Act....it is just one closer step to a National ID Card and it includes in it talk of a "border wall barriers"...all in the name of "national security"....yeah, right...we really are on our way to becoming a police state and the check list you presented above is exactly what it seems to be...a checklist for their plans....

No, its not you...I and others I know talk about this alot and its very worrisome...

[auburngrad82]

3. I think we need to put one on Jeff Gannon so we can track him

and find out exactly how many Republicans he's screwing.

[SmokingJacket]

4. That was a very weird story.

I rarely listen to NPR anymore, because it's all "balanced" fluff now, but this was an actual piece of journalism. The guy in the story was an immigrant from Belize who was applying for citizenship after living here for five years (apparently legally) and whose application was *denied* (who knows why; the guy was a good hard-working person). So he had to wear an electronic ankle bracelet while his case was being appealed!

Crazy stuff! Why is it okay to do things to non-citizens that you wouldn't -- CAN'T -- do to citizens? We don't do them to citizens because they're WRONG.

[alwynsw]

10. See post #9. n/t

[alwynsw]

9. Electronic monitoring is not just for immigrants anymore

Portland, OR is in a pilot phase and the CA legislature may soon be considering something equally as insidious.

A new mileage tax plan would require a GPS device to be attached to every vehicle registered in the state to verify actual miles driven in order to levy the tax for each vehicle. Proprnents say that the devices will only determine whether the vehicle is in or out of the state and cannot track the vehicle at all times. Yeah. And the San Andreas has healed itself and disappeared forever.

Too 1984 for me.

http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2004/08/19/sections/news/news/article_208035

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/14/eveningnews/main674120.shtml

[Pachamama]

11. WOW! That's too 1984 for me too!

I never even heard about that proposal, but I adamantly oppose it...I don't even drive much! I'd rather pay higher gas taxes based on usage by all (which is much more equitable and penalizes someone driving a Ford Extinction versus a Hybrid Prius) or even higher income taxes than to have a creepy device like that installed on my car.

Who thinks up this kinda shit? If its the legislature, here in California its primarily Democrats...was it a Dem or a Republican that came up with this one? And I can tell you that if this gets brought up, I can't imagine anyone in this state agreeing to it....Yikes...

[alwynsw]

12. A partial answer

Joan Borucki, chief deputy director at the California Transportation Commission and a member of the California Performance Review team that made the recommendation here, insists the device could not track residents' whereabouts.

I don't buy it. GPS, by definition, is capable of tracking almost anywhere on the planet.

I can see the subpoenas now: divorce cases in which one party is accused of philandering get the record subpoenaed to prove that spouse "A" parked at 123 Any St. at 2:00 P.M. every Tuesday for an hour, cops investigating all manner of crimes, etc. I can even see it being used in the future to track routes and travel times so speeding tickets can be delivered in the mail: gotta keep that revenue stream going, dontchaknow.

The are upsides to it: pinpointing the vehicle used in a crime, finding stolen cars similar to LoJack (bright spot - LoJack is at the owners option).

It's potentially far too large a can of worms with too many opportunities for abuse by both the courts and the private sector for my taste.

Ever know anyone who went through a messy divorce that had ties to the courthouse? I do. It was me. My ex-wife harrasses me constantly despite an unlisted phone number and using a P.O. Box. Can't hide you physical address legally if you want to register a vehicle or obtain a license. A program like this would allow the unethical to track anyone anywhere anytime.

Also, a primarily CA problem: no one should ever doubt that the press or paparazzi won't "buy" this information with a little green grease.

Now think about political candidate implications. It could cut both ways - and cut very deeply.

I can think of more possible use and abuse but I'll quit ranting.

[AirAmFan]

13. Life is imitating art! Remember 'The Coneheads'? The Michael McKean

character was an INS official with a completely nutty idea that was good for a couple of cheap laughs:

"Let's implant collars on all the immigrants we find breaking the law, and ship them home. If they ever try to cross the border again, a buried wire will give them a shock they won't soon forget. Great deterrence!"

McKean had a crude model of his crazy scheme with a map of the Mexican border (emphasized in thick red Magic Marker) and a three-inch plastic doll. He pushed a button, and the doll went up in flames with a puff of smoke and a loud noise, like lighting an old-fashioned oven with a match!

Now, here on *'s watch,someone at INS has managed to put a version of this absurdity into effect!