Homeland Stupidity

U.S. renunciant wins FOIA case over Trusted Traveler Program card denial

"Via Courthouse News, we learn of the story of Robert Darnbrough, a Canadian who renounced U.S. citizenship in 2003, and was later denied a Nexus border crossing card by U.S. Customs & Border Protection. Darnbrough filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the State Department in February 2011, which then released some documents to him in November that year. However, they did not deliver information contained in the Consular Lookout and Support System (CLASS), claiming that 8 USC 1202(f)(confidential nature of records) allowed them to withhold it under FOIA Exemption #3." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. renunciant wins FOIA case over Trusted Traveler Program card denial

Texas bans shooting immigrants from helicopters

"Officials in Texas announced on Thursday that State Troopers would no longer be allowed to open fire on suspects from helicopters after the recent killing of two immigrants. While announcing the new policy, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw insisted that the ban on aerial shootings had nothing to do with the October 2012 death of two Guatemalan immigrants, who were gunned down by troopers in helicopter while they were hiding in the back of a speeding pickup truck near La Joya." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTexas bans shooting immigrants from helicopters

Homeland Security Expands Electronics Seizure In “Constitution-Free” Zones

"The latest development in 4th Amendment violations is the scariest I've heard yet. The Department of the Fatherland has approved a policy which states in no uncertain terms that electronic devices can be seized without a warrant within 100 miles of the border. The kicker? The 'border', according to this policy, is any national barrier, political or physical. THIS INCLUDES BODIES OF WATER. So, that means that the United States has, in effect, 'Constitution-free zones' stretching 100 miles inland from every coast and 100 miles from our northern and southern borders." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHomeland Security Expands Electronics Seizure In “Constitution-Free” Zones

U.S. Government: The Truth Is Too Complicated and Dangerous to Disclose to the Public

"Secretive, unaccountable agencies are making life and death decisions which effect our most basic rights. They provide 'secret evidence' to courts which cannot be checked … and often withhold any such 'evidence' even from the judges. The government uses 'secret evidence' to spy on Americans, prosecute leaking or terrorism charges (even against U.S. soldiers) and even assassinate people. All of this happened in Germany – as in America today – because the governments whipped up so much fear of attack by demonizing the enemy and declaring an open-ended war that people became complacent and stopped thinking for themselves." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Government: The Truth Is Too Complicated and Dangerous to Disclose to the Public

States step up fight against use of surveillance drones by law enforcement

"Lawmakers in at least 11 states are proposing various restrictions on the use of drones over their skies amid concerns the unmanned aerial vehicles could be exploited by local authorities to spy on Americans. Virginia lawmakers on Tuesday approved a two-year moratorium on the use of drones by police and government agencies. Proponents of the legislation say the unfettered use of drones could infringe on Virginians' privacy rights. In an attempt to address police concerns, legislators carved out exceptions for the use of drones in emergencies, or to search for missing children or seniors." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingStates step up fight against use of surveillance drones by law enforcement

Paul Craig Roberts: Obama’s Expanding Kill List

"If the Obama regime is on the side of the government, as in Algeria, it will kill the rebels opposing the government. If the Obama regime is on the side of the rebels, as in Libya, it will kill the government’s leaders. Whether Washington sends a drone to murder Putin and the president of China remains to be seen. The elasticity of the Kill List and its easy expansion makes it certain that Washington will be involved in extra-judicial executions of those 'associated with terrorism' over much of the world. Americans themselves should be alarmed, because the term 'association with terrorism' is very elastic." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPaul Craig Roberts: Obama’s Expanding Kill List

TechCrunch Founder: The Department Of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

"I live near Seattle and there’s a big boating culture up here. I found a small company that builds boats specifically for this area called Coastal Craft. I ordered it in 2011 and planned on writing about the experience after it was delivered. I named her Buddy. It has state of the art electronics and a fairly new highly efficient propulsion system that the TechCrunch audience would be interested in. Buying this boat was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever made, and the nightmare is only just starting. Today I’m going to write about how the Department of Homeland Security seized that boat." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTechCrunch Founder: The Department Of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

How Fascism Grows? Prison Company Buys Boca Stadium Naming Rights

"The GEO Group (GEO) is a for-profit prison company based in Boca Raton, Fla., that calls itself 'the world's leading provider of correctional and detention management and community reentry services to federal, state and local government agencies.' It can also call itself the world's leading provider of Florida Atlantic University Owls football, having paid $6 million to put its name on the school's stadium." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHow Fascism Grows? Prison Company Buys Boca Stadium Naming Rights

Is Your Local Police Department Using Pictures of Pregnant Women and Children for Target Practice?

"What if I told you police in your town could desensitize themselves to the idea of shooting a (armed) child, pregnant woman, or young mother, for just a couple of bucks? The 'No More Hesitation' series from Law Enforcement Targets Inc. offers exactly that. For less than 99 cents per target, police can shoot at real-life images 'designed to give officers the experience of dealing with deadly force shooting scenarios with subjects that are not the norm during training.' The series contains seven targets in all, titled Pregnant Woman, Older Man 1, Older Man 2, Older Woman, Young Mother, Young Girl, and Little Brother. Each of the depicted subjects is armed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIs Your Local Police Department Using Pictures of Pregnant Women and Children for Target Practice?