American Civil Liberties Union

National Security:
Throughout U.S. history "national security" has often been used as a pretext for massive violations of individual rights. The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 mobilized our country in the fight against terrorism. However, this also launched a serious civil liberties crises. The ACLU continues to challenge policies like the USA Patriot Act, and creates campaigns like Safe and Free.



Freedom Files - Season 2
Ideological Exclusion

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National Security : Legislative Documents

Letter to the House on H.R. 5005, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (07/24/2002)

Letter to the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee on S. 2452, the National Homeland Security and Combating Terrorism Act of 2002 (07/23/2002)

Coalition Letter to Congress Urging Opposition to the Broad Freedom of Information Act Exemption in the Homeland Security Act (07/12/2002)

Letter to the House Government Reform Committee Urging Support on Amendments to H.R. 5005 to Make Homeland Security Department Open and Accountable (07/10/2002)

Testimony on the President's Proposal for a Homeland Security Department, "The Homeland Security Act of 2002," Before Congressional Committees (06/25/2002)

Letter to the INS Director on the Release of Information Regarding Immigration and Naturalization Service Detainees in Non-Federal Facilities (06/21/2002)

Coalition Letter to the INS Director on the Release of Information Regarding Immigration and Naturalization Service Detainees in Non-Federal Facilities (06/21/2002)

Interested Persons Memo: Analysis of Changes to Attorney General Guidelines (06/06/2002)
On May 30, 2002, Attorney General Ashcroft released new Guidelines on General Crimes, Racketeering Enterprise and Terrorism Enterprise Investigations. Sweeping away protections that have been in place since the 1970s, the new Guidelines allow the government to spy on domestic groups even when there is no suspicion of wrongdoing.

Letter to the Organization of American States on Military Detentions and Tribunals (06/06/2002)

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