The U.S. Patriot Act, a controversial issue
...ion, and international counter money laundering and related measures. Title V is removing obstacles to investigate terrorism. This includes allowing them to see personal records and DNA identification. Title VII is increased information sharing for critical infrastructure protection. Title VIII is strengthening the criminal laws against terrorism and Title IX is improved intelligence. This act is very long and difficult to understand. There are many sections that are too thorough to comprehend. People against the U.S. Patriot Act argue that it violates the Bill of Rights and other constitutional rights. It took away these basic rights: First Amendment - Freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and the press: Fourth Amendment - Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures: Fifth Amendment - No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law: Sixth Amendment - Right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury, the right to be informed of the facts of the accusation, and the right to confront witnesses and have the assistance of counsel: Eighth Amendment - No excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment shall be imposed: Fourteenth Amendment - All persons (citizens and non-citizens) within the U.S. are entitled to due process and the equal protection of the laws. Here are some examples of things that have been done that people feel violate their rights: Thousands of Arab and South Asian immigrants have been interrogated because of their religion or ethnic background, not because of actual wrongdoing. Thousands of men, mostly of Arab and South Asian origin, have been held in secretive federal custody for weeks, sometimes without any charges filed against them. According to the New York Times, “More than 13,000 Arab and Muslim men are facing deportation in what could result in the largest wave of deportations since the Sept. 11 attacks. Those facing deportation are among the 82,000 men from Arab and Muslim countries who voluntarily registered with immigration officials over the six months. The Pakistani community has been particularly hard hit. Bobby Khan of the Coney Island Avenue Project told the New York Times that between 40 to 50 percent of the 120,000 Pakistanis who lived in the area before Sept. 11 have since been detained, deported, or have left the area. The government has refused to publish their names and whereabouts, even when ordered to do so by the courts. The press and the public have been barred from immigration court hearings of those detained after September 11th, and the courts are ordered to keep secret even that the hearings are taking place. The government is allowed to monitor communications between federal detainees and their lawyers, destroying the attorney/client privilege and threatening the right to counsel. New Attorney General Guidelines allow FBI spying on religious and political organizations and individuals without having evidence of wrongdoing. President Bush has ordered military commissions to be set up to try suspected terrorists who are not citizens. They can convict based on hearsay and secret evidence by only two-thirds vote. American citizens suspected of terrorism are being held indefinitely in military custody without being charged and without access to lawyers. This lack of due process and accountability violates the rights extended to all persons, citizens and non-citizens, by the Bill of Rights. Many people feel that all of these acts violate their constitutional rights; therefore they feel that the U.S. Patriot Act is wrong. Proponents for the U.S. Patriot Act argue that it is essential to protecting citizens of our country from terrorism and terrorist acts. This Act allows law enforcement agencies to do whatever necessary to make this country a safer place to live. The Patriot Act allows investigators to use the tools that were already available to investigate organized crime and drug trafficking. Many of the tools the Act provides to law enforcement to fight terrorism have been used for decades to fight organized crime and drug dealers. The FBI could get a wiretap to investigate the mafia, but they could not get one to investigate terrorists. The Act allows law enforcement to use surveillance against more crimes of terror. It also allows federal agents to follow sophisticated terrorists trained to evade detection. For years, law enforcement has been able to use “roving wiretaps” to investigate ordinary crimes, including drug offenses and racketeering. A roving wiretap can be authorized by a federal judge to apply to a particular suspect, rather than a particular phone or communications device. Because international terrorists are sophisticated and trained to avoid surveillanc...