ARE YOU LIVING IN THE CONSTITUTION FREE ZONE?

[Are_grits_groceries]

Using data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, the ACLU has determined that nearly 2/3 of the entire US population (197.4 million people) live within 100 miles of the US land and coastal borders.

The government is assuming extraordinary powers to stop and search individuals within this zone. This is not just about the border: This " Constitution-Free Zone" includes most of the nation's largest metropolitan areas.

We urge you to call on Congress to hold hearings on and pass legislation to end these egregious violations of Americans' civil rights.



Fact Sheet on U.S. "Constitution Free Zone"
http://www.aclu.org/privacy/37293res20081022.html

http://www.aclu.org/privacy/spying/areyoulivinginaconstitutionfreezone.html

Whoa!

[liberal N proud]

1. Well, Isn't that special

[shadowknows69]

2. By the looks of it most of my state is

Fuck this shit. I don't recall the amendment to our Constitution that allows this.

[dorkulon]

3. The Supreme Court OK'd this.

I live in Buffalo, and I'm pissed.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

5. To which USSC decision are you referring? n/t

[dorkulon]

16. Uh...dunno.

Not an expert, just saw a segment about the issue today, which included a quotation from the SCOTUS, something about probable cause requirements being "impractical" or something, for these highway stops. Of course, I'm sure it's being aggressively misinterpreted.

[Xenotime]

20. You are just full of information, aren't you?

Something this important and all you have is, "Uh...dunno", "something about probable cause...or something"

Lets all get some real facts in here.

[dorkulon]

22. I spent a while trying to find te specific line, but didn't have much luck.

The ACLU site, for instance, didn't have any kind of "this is what the other side say" info, which I found disappointing. I agree, I'd like to know myself. Just couldn't find it. Sue me.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

23. Of course not. They pulled this out of their ass.

This is just going to be one of those things where I have to disagree with the ACLU's statements, if not its objective. There hasn't been a new law or rule change to anything to do with the jurisdiction of customs or immigration officers. I checked. It's not a "constitution-free zone." Now, as to whether there has been an operational change (meaning that CBP has changed the way it operates within preexisting rules) it looks like they've set up a few more inland mobile checkpoints. This is being blown out of all proportion.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

4. I wish the ACLU would stop with this.

It's misleading. The government isn't "assuming" any powers. Customs and border patrol have had authority within 100 miles of the border for practically forever. And it doesn't make the areas within their jurisdiction "constitution-free zones."

[annabanana]

7. "practically forever" ??

The government doesn't have any power that the people haven't explicitly given them.. In light of the massive overreach of the Patriot Act I think it is well within our rights to reexamine things that you may have assumed...

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

9. This has nothing to do with the PATRIOT act.

In fact, you will notice that in none of its material on this subject does the ACLU cite a specific piece of legislation or rules change being responsible for this situation. This is because there isn't one. The number of inland checkpoints has been increased, but this has been done under existing jurisdiction rules, not new ones.

[shadowknows69]

10. Apparently then our laws rely too much on the personal ethics of the administration in charge

I hope President Obama will take us back to a time where we aren't ruled by fear. Home of the Brave right?

[annabanana]

12. I did not say it did. I said "in light of the overreach". . .

and you haven't told me where it's written that they CAN do this. .

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

18. It's the definition of "reasonable distance" from the border...

...within which border patrol agents have certain powers:

Reasonable distance defined here:
http://law.justia.com/us/cfr/title08/8-1.0.1.2.57.0.1.1.html

The specifics of the powers that can be exercised within that reasonable distance are elsewhere in title VIII part 287 as I recall.

[annabanana]

19. So this was written AFTER Customs was broken up?

So this is AFTER the DHS was cobbled together and ICE was created and hyper-militarized?

(2) Reasonable distance. The term reasonable distance, as used in section 287(a) (3) of the Act, means within 100 air miles from any external boundary of the United States or any shorter distance which may be fixed by the chief patrol agent for CBP, or the special agent in charge for ICE, or, so far as the power to board and search aircraft is concerned any distance fixed pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

21. No, it's been that way forever.

The CFR was changed to put all of the DHS stuff in one place upon creation of DHS (it wouldn't have made sense to leave it scattered all over creation) but the 100 mile jurisdiction text has been around for a long time.

[annabanana]

6. Get this: 97.4% of the population of the State of NY is "Constitution Free"

100% of theses states are in the Government's "Constitution Free Zone"
Connecticut
Delaware
DC
Florida
Hawaii
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Rhode Island

In these states, 50% or more of the people get to KEEP their Constitutional guarantees:
Alabama
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Minnesota
Mississippi
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Texas
West Virginia

[RC]

8. Why is this administration acting as if they will still be in control after the elections?

[madokie]

11. better yet, how can they, not, still be in control

considering all the laws broken and lives lost

In a just world these war criminals would be marched straight to a lockup somewhere to possibly to never see daylight again. How can they not? And remain free

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. ...

:argh:

[AnneD]

14. After looking at Florida.....

that explains the 2000 Election:(

[formercia]

15. They don't bother me.

I have a special holographic sticker in my passport. They think I'm one of their supervisors.

[mmonk]

17. We all have since 2001.

[machI]

24. As a matter of fact, I am. n/t

[Quantess]

25. You got me for a minute. But I'm a caucasian woman! So it doesn't apply to me.

I am truly sorry for all the rest of you non-whites.

[reggie the dog]

26. Chicago is wrongly incuded in the map

Lake Michigan IS NOT A BORDER WITH CANADA! The orange area should go through michigan and northern wisconsin but NOT ILLINOIS