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Federal judge rules FBI terrorism watchlist violates constitutional rights
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that a government database of more than one million people identified as "known or suspected terrorists," violates the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens who were added to the list by denying them due process.
Almost two dozen Muslim American citizens who were placed on a watchlist, known as the Terrorist Screening Database, filed suit along with the Council on American-Islamic Relations against the government saying they were wrongly included in the database and that the process for adding names is overbroad and riddled with errors.
Many on the list, which is maintained by the FBI and shared with a variety of federal agencies, said they were subjected to frequent and sometimes invasive screenings while traveling which have led to "adverse experiences and consequences," including being handcuffed at border crossings.
U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga ruled that the travel difficulties faced by plaintiffs who were on the list are significant and that they have a right to due process when their constitutional rights are infringed.
Previously: Feds Sued for Putting Infant (and Thousands More) on Terrorist Watchlist
(Score: 3, Interesting) by NotSanguine on Friday September 06 2019, @04:27PM
Pissing in an alley outside a bar while drunk, or being in high school and having sex with your partner can get you on a sex offender registry in many states [slate.com]. For life.
The "Terrorist Watchlist" is even worse, as you have no recourse to be removed and usually don't even know you're on such a list.
If you're on a "Sex offender" list, you (presumably) know this and can "petition the government for redress of grievances." [wikipedia.org]
Having no recourse challenge being on a "watchlist" is a violation of the First Amendment to the US Constitution. I don't know *any* voters who are in favor of that. Not that it matters. It's unconstitutional on its face, and the practice must be stopped.
Does this mean you are in favor of repealing the First Amendment?
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr