Posted on 07/01/2010 6:14:00 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
ATLANTA (Reuters) - The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday filed suit over the U.S. government's "no-fly list," saying it violates individuals' rights.
The suit, filed on behalf of 10 U.S. citizens or lawful residents, says thousands have been barred from commercial air travel with no chance to address the basis for their apparent inclusion on the list.
An ACLU lawyer on Wednesday said the complaint was the first to be filed on behalf of U.S. legal residents seeking systemic reform and raising the issue of constitutionality because of the lack of a procedure for people to challenge their inclusion on the list.
At least one previous suit has been filed by a noncitizen in a bid to get herself removed from the list.
People on the no-fly list, which came into existence after the September 11, 2001, attacks, are banned from flying inside the United States as well as to and from the country.
"This the first systemic suit ... saying look, it's unconstitutional that the government doesn't give you a way to get off," said Nusrat Choudhury, an attorney with the National Security Project of the ACLU.
She said the 10 plaintiffs had been placed on the list sometime this year and do not know why they are on it. She also said government reports indicate the list has swelled since last year's attempted Christmas Day bombing of a U.S. airliner flying from Amsterdam to Detroit.
Plaintiffs "don't have a way to tell the government that they shouldn't be on this list and to find out the reasons why and stand up for themselves," Choudhury said.
Defendants named in the suit are U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, FBI Chief Robert Mueller and Timothy Healy, the director of the Terrorist Screening Center
(Excerpt) Read more at publicbroadcasting.net ...
somehow this list smells of ‘punishment’ without having being accused of a crime.
Well, I suggest that they move back to whatever third world hell hole they came from, stop building suicide vests, and write a nice letter asking to be removed from the list. Oh, and maybe change their names to something other than “Nusrat Choudhury”.
6-year-old girl on ‘no fly’ list:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2542171/posts
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http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2010/06/26/6-year-old-girl-on-no-fly-list/UPI-90481277534674/
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Not gonna touch that one ...... /laughs
They do have a point. People on the no-fly list are being denied their liberty without due process.
I understand the need for security, and nobody after 9-11 will deny the potential consequences, but this double-secret no-fly list with no means for due process is too ripe for abuse and misuse by a potential police state.
You do not have a civil right to fly, any more than you have a civil right to drive a car.
You do not have a civil right to fly, any more than you have a civil right to drive a car.
You do not have a civil right to fly, any more than you have a civil right to drive a car.
There are a lot of Issues I have with the ACLU,
But being unable to petition to get off the list seems to deprive one of “Due Process”.
Resolving the Due Process Issue Still leaves a “Prior Restraint” Issue.
Whether or Not these Constitutional Rights should apply to persons that are Not US citizens Is another Issue.
Many are now saying that Constitutional Rights apply to anyone anywhere in the World, I have a Problem with that.
No doubt Kagan is just burning up for the chance to write the Majority Opinion on that one ~ about the “getting off” part ~ it’ll be a laugh riot!
No doubt Kagan is just burning up for the chance to write the Majority Opinion on that one ~ about the “getting off” part ~ it’ll be a laugh riot!
Also, they gotta seat me immediately behind them and give me a gun ~ a large caliber gun ~ maybe a shotgun.
If there's more than one of 'em on the plane, I want a full refund and a bonus ticket 'cause it's time to get off!
Otherwise the fascist administration will use it for political punishment, rather than fighting "enemy combatants" as they call them , terrorists being the better word. Legitimate political opponents of the fascist Barry Soetoro administration could find themselves unable to travel and campaign against him. Yes, Barry is about to have many "enemy combatants" arrayed against him.
The same goes for the executive power to shut down the internet whichi is being touted in Senate committee , or to unilaterally spy on the e-mails and telephone conversatiosn under the guize of terrorism.Too much of this ability is capable of being used by the executive branch to investigate political opponents IMHO.
Perhaps the ACLU has mistakenly actually fallen into a case that will acyually preserve liberty above and beyond their usual political correctness fiascos.
I understand your point of view.
Perhaps there should be a Vote of all the Passengers prior to takeoff.
There is No Right to Fly.
If we have a Right to be informed as to what is in a Can of Peas, Each passenger certainly has a Right to be Safe and fully Informed of any potential Risks when Flying.
They should be marked with large red targets ~ just in case something happens we'll know who to toss out first.
Agreed. And for heavens sakes, no parachutes for them either.
Many American citizens wind up on these lists, including anyone named Jack Baldwin, David Nelson, Alexandra Hay, etc. because someone with one of those names is wanted for something (not necessarily related to airport security).
These lists have been out of control for quite some time.
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