Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Bush & Republicans Continue to Grow the American Police State. Private Mail Now Being Opened.
U.S. opening some private mail in terror fight
Customs: Letters from abroad subject to screening
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- U.S. officials are opening personal mail that arrives from abroad when they deem it necessary to protect the country from terrorism, a Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman said Monday.
News of the little-known practice follows revelations that the government approved eavesdropping on U.S. citizens without judicial oversight after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which sparked concern from civil liberties advocates and some lawmakers, who called for congressional hearings.
"Customs and Border Protection is charged with making sure that terrorists and terrorists' weapons don't enter the country," said Suzanne Trevino, a spokeswoman for the customs agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security.
"One of our areas of responsibility is to inspect international mail coming into our country," she said. "We respect privacy and always keep that at the forefront, but at the same time we need to make sure we do our job in keeping U.S. citizens safe."
Customs and Border Protection's Web site notes that "all mail originating outside United States Customs territory that is to be delivered inside U.S. Customs territory is subject to Customs examination."
Grant Goodman, an 81-year-old retired history professor, drew attention to the policy after a letter he received from a colleague in the Philippines was opened and resealed by Customs and Border Protection, and only then sent on to him.
He said he was shocked and amazed that the letter -- which he received last month from another retired history professor with whom he has corresponded for 50 years -- had been screened.
"It was a big surprise," Goodman, who taught at the University of Kansas, told Reuters. "The public should know that this is being done. Nobody whom I know had any idea that this was going on. And as far as I know, it's never been announced. It's never been revealed that this is being done."
Trevino said she could not comment specifically on Goodman's case because she had not seen the letter and was not sure if it had been examined as he said. She did not say how often officials open mail for security reasons.
Customs: Letters from abroad subject to screening
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- U.S. officials are opening personal mail that arrives from abroad when they deem it necessary to protect the country from terrorism, a Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman said Monday.
News of the little-known practice follows revelations that the government approved eavesdropping on U.S. citizens without judicial oversight after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which sparked concern from civil liberties advocates and some lawmakers, who called for congressional hearings.
"Customs and Border Protection is charged with making sure that terrorists and terrorists' weapons don't enter the country," said Suzanne Trevino, a spokeswoman for the customs agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security.
"One of our areas of responsibility is to inspect international mail coming into our country," she said. "We respect privacy and always keep that at the forefront, but at the same time we need to make sure we do our job in keeping U.S. citizens safe."
Customs and Border Protection's Web site notes that "all mail originating outside United States Customs territory that is to be delivered inside U.S. Customs territory is subject to Customs examination."
Grant Goodman, an 81-year-old retired history professor, drew attention to the policy after a letter he received from a colleague in the Philippines was opened and resealed by Customs and Border Protection, and only then sent on to him.
He said he was shocked and amazed that the letter -- which he received last month from another retired history professor with whom he has corresponded for 50 years -- had been screened.
"It was a big surprise," Goodman, who taught at the University of Kansas, told Reuters. "The public should know that this is being done. Nobody whom I know had any idea that this was going on. And as far as I know, it's never been announced. It's never been revealed that this is being done."
Trevino said she could not comment specifically on Goodman's case because she had not seen the letter and was not sure if it had been examined as he said. She did not say how often officials open mail for security reasons.
# posted by The Punisher @ Tuesday, January 10, 2006 
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What's pathetic about opening our mail is that it will not protect us from terrorism because our "protectors" are incompetent. If Osama attached a 39-cent stamp to an open letter giving the precise date, time and location of the next big U.S. explosion, some boony-bound border cop would use it for asswipe. In the end, it will be the "American People" who will fight terrorism in the street. But, who will lead us? Fidel Castro?
# posted by 
: 11:58 PM
: 11:58 PM
I'm not sure I see the problem here. This is completly unrelated to the various invasions of privacy under the current Administration.
The article you cut-n-pasted makes no mention of the Customs and Border Protection's statement that they've had this authority long before being rolled in the Dept. of Homeland Security.
I might be shocked if this had happened to mail going between two U.S. citizens inside the U.S.
Customs has the right to poke, prod, inspect, impound, reject, etc anything other than diplomatic material... if it crosses the United States border.
Just because people were ignorant of this fact doesn't make it news.
The article you cut-n-pasted makes no mention of the Customs and Border Protection's statement that they've had this authority long before being rolled in the Dept. of Homeland Security.
I might be shocked if this had happened to mail going between two U.S. citizens inside the U.S.
Customs has the right to poke, prod, inspect, impound, reject, etc anything other than diplomatic material... if it crosses the United States border.
Just because people were ignorant of this fact doesn't make it news.
# posted by : 2:53 AM
: 2:53 AM
I'd feel a whole lot more confident in your cocksure statement if you'd quote the relevant statutory authority.
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