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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: (202) 675-2312, media@dcaclu.org
Today, as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff goes
before the Senate Judiciary Committee for an annual oversight hearing, the
American Civil Liberties Union calls on the committee to demand he answer
tough questions about DHS's most troubling initiatives. The ACLU submitted a
statement for the record detailing concerns the organization has with some
of the department's activities, namely recent policies regarding immigration
raids, deaths in immigration detention facilities, Real ID, Total
Information Awareness and fusion centers.
"The Department of Homeland Security, under the direction of Secretary
Chertoff, has established itself as an agency that will ignore and, if
needed, trample the privacy and liberty of American citizens under the
façade of national security," said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the
ACLU Washington Legislative Office. "DHS has overseen severe violations of
individual rights, such as entering homes without warrants and implementing
surveillance programs that target innocent Americans. Secretary Chertoff
should fully disclose his agencies violations of our civil liberties and
begin an open and frank dialogue with the American people about what he is
going to do to fix it."
Secretary Chertoff testified before the House Judiciary Committee last
month, where similar questions were asked of him. He disclosed little,
making today's hearing crucial for Congress and the American people the
department is tasked with protecting.
"DHS has begun a downward spiral that continues to strip away individual
privacy and rights, as well as trample the sovereignty of the states," said
ACLU Senior Legislative Counsel Tim Sparapani. "Real ID is a prime example,
where DHS is attempting to force on the states a national ID scheme. The
federal government has more than proven that it should not be in the
business of storing Americans personal information, and Real ID will create
a one-stop shop for identity thieves."
"Secretary Chertoff has been at the helm of DHS when severe breaches of
individual rights have occurred around the department's immigration
practices," added Joanne Lin, ACLU legislative counsel. People have died
while being detained by DHS. Americans' homes have been invaded by armed ICE
agents and citizens, including young children, taken into custody during ICE
raids. There have been cases of citizens who were detained or deported by
DHS. Secretary Chertoff needs to explain ICE's conduct to the Senate and the
American people."
