The DHS's "Constitution Free" Zones

[Hathradic States]

Sourceness Numbro Ein (The Daily Sheeple).
Source Numbar Dva (ACLU Website).

More Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/todd-mill ... 38075.html
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/0 ... -seizures/

To sum it up, the Department of Homeland Security has the ability to search your electronic belongings for no reason, a clear violation of the US's 4th Amendment, within a hundred miles of the border. As you can see on the maps provided in the sources, this includes several entire states, such as Maine and Florida. At first, I was rather skeptical on this, given the original source, but the first article talked about the ACLU lawsuit over it, so I swallowed my conservative pride and checked there, where, indeed it does exist.

So, NSG, what are you thoughts on these actions? Is it reasonable, given the times we live in, or a gross breach of the US Constitution?

Myself, I find that, if the ACLU lawsuit makes it to the Supreme Court, they will likely say that, indeed, the actions are unconstitutional. Hopefully, it will do away with the policy.

[Geilinor]

We calculated this using the most recent, 2007 numbers from the U.S. Census, and released a map showing the cities and states that are enveloped by this zone. It includes some of the largest metropolitan areas in the country: New York City, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon. States that are completely within this Constitution-Free Zone include Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. When you say “border,” they think “all of New England.”

CBP has been setting up checkpoints far inland — on highways in states such as California, Texas and Arizona, and at ferry terminals in Washington State. Typically, the agents ask drivers and passengers about their citizenship.

This is horrible. Basically, the government can stop anyone in those areas and demand proof of citizenship? How will this not end up causing racial profiling based on "stop everyone who seems like they might not be American citizens"?

[Regnum Dominae]

197 million people, nearly 2/3 of the US population, lives within the "constitution-free" zone. *gulp*

Anyway, this is clearly a case of blatant governmental overreach and is seriously worrying. This is a grave infringement of personal privacy and Constitutionally guaranteed rights.

[Wisconsin9]

... Jesus Christ, I live in that area. That's... that's honestly pretty fucking terrifying.

[Tubbsalot]

To sum it up, the Department of Homeland Security has the ability to search your electronic belongings for no reason, a clear violation of the US's 4th Amendment, within a hundred miles of the border.

Before reading anything else, I'm going to assume this refers to searching unsecured public networks projected from otherwise private devices, which is very unlikely to violate your constitution.

Now let's see whether that was an unreasonable assumption.

[Tubbsalot]

Alright, so it was actually an unreasonable assumption.

I don't know if I have anything to follow up, here. I wasn't expecting this to be real.

[The Republic of Lanos]

I know where not to live now.

[Libertarian California]

Yeah, suspending the Constitution so we can catch "druggies" and "terrorists" is always a good idea!

[Libertarian California]

197 million people, nearly 2/3 of the US population, lives within the "constitution-free" zone. *gulp*

(Image)

Anyway, this is clearly a case of blatant governmental overreach and is seriously worrying.

Regnum, we live in occupied territory.

[Hathradic States]

Alright, so it was actually an unreasonable assumption.

I don't know if I have anything to follow up, here. I wasn't expecting this to be real.

My thoughts were the same man.

[Bendira]

The whole country is a constitution free zone with the NSA spy programs, its just that in this particular program they actually have jackbooted fascists on the ground making it more blatant

[The Serbian Empire]

197 million people, nearly 2/3 of the US population, lives within the "constitution-free" zone. *gulp*

(Image)

Anyway, this is clearly a case of blatant governmental overreach and is seriously worrying.

Regnum, we live in occupied territory.

I just hope Michigan is given to Canada at this point. I'd welcome the Canadian overlords.

[Gaveo]

Holy crap...

Thank god I don't live in the orange zone. O_o

Seriously, what is wrong with this government?

[Wisconsin9]

Regnum, we live in occupied territory.

I just hope Michigan is given to Canada at this point. I'd welcome the Canadian overlords.

Wisconsin, too. Hell, just give them the whole Great Lakes region.

[Geilinor]

197 million people, nearly 2/3 of the US population, lives within the "constitution-free" zone. *gulp*

(Image)

Anyway, this is clearly a case of blatant governmental overreach and is seriously worrying.

Regnum, we live in occupied territory.

One more step towards a police state. I'm drifting to libertarian mode.

[Regnum Dominae]

More sources (these are a bit old, but still relevant):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/todd-mill ... 38075.html
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/0 ... -seizures/

[Libertarian California]

I just hope Michigan is given to Canada at this point. I'd welcome the Canadian overlords.

Wisconsin, too. Hell, just give them the whole Great Lakes region.

As much as it pains me to say it, evil communist Canada is better than this shit.

What is happening to my country!?!?!?!

[Luziyca]

I thought it'd be assigning certain parts of the country to be free speech zones and the rest wouldn't be. As expected, it is far worse. At least I do not live within that zone, because I happen to live in the Dominion of Canada.

I just hope Michigan is given to Canada at this point. I'd welcome the Canadian overlords.

Wisconsin, too. Hell, just give them the whole Great Lakes region.

Or at least Alaska.

[Saint Kitten]

It must be weird living in San Antonio it must be like, am I the free zone or not? And I think I live just on the line. FML

[Regnum Dominae]

The whole country is a constitution free zone with the NSA spy programs, its just that in this particular program they actually have jackbooted fascists on the ground making it more blatant

I agree that this is worrying, but "jackbooted fascists"? Really?

[Genivaria]

197 million people, nearly 2/3 of the US population, lives within the "constitution-free" zone. *gulp*

(Image)

Anyway, this is clearly a case of blatant governmental overreach and is seriously worrying. This is a grave infringement of personal privacy and Constitutionally guaranteed rights.

I'm riiiight below the Austin dot in Texas.

[Qahadim]

Suddenly i'm very glad to live in bum fuck Egypt, deep within the interior if the country.

So when do we pressure our state legislatures to call constitutional conventions to put a stop Yo crap like this?

[Regnum Dominae]

It must be weird living in San Antonio it must be like, am I the free zone or not? And I think I live just on the line. FML

Are you in the north or south of the San Antonio area?

[Luziyca]

Wisconsin, too. Hell, just give them the whole Great Lakes region.

As much as it pains me to say it, evil communist Canada is better than this shit.

What is happening to my country!?!?!?!

At this rate, I'd give them 20 years before it goes the way of the USSR, or 25 before it goes the way of the DPRK.

[Hathradic States]

More sources (these are a bit old, but still relevant):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/todd-mill ... 38075.html
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/0 ... -seizures/

Adding these to the OP.