Sam Farr: “the Justice Department is entrusted with one of the most sacred rights of American citizenship--protecting the right to…”

“the Justice Department is entrusted with one of the most sacred rights of American citizenship--protecting the right to privacy. The privacy rights of my constituents at Moss Landing Harbor on the central coast of California were recently violated under the guise of ``homeland security.'' At 10:30 at night, Coast Guard members armed with M-16 rifles approached docked boats, woke my constituents up, and boarded and searched their boats. When asked why they were subject to these searches, the officers cited safety, ``homeland security'' and allegedly the PATRIOT Act. The PATRIOT Act does not give the Coast Guard the right to violate the privacy of law-abiding citizens. It is exactly these kinds of abuses that prove why we should not be making PATRIOT Act provisions permanent. As we reauthorize the Department of Justice today, we must be mindful of our obligation to uphold the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The U.S. cherishes the rule of Law and the protection of civil liberties. Unlawful search and seizure in the name of Homeland Security is Homeland insecurity. [From the Monterey Herald, Sept. 18, 2005] Coast Guard Overboard With Searches Coast Guard officers apparently were on firm ground legally when they randomly boarded and inspected nearly 30 boats docked in Monterey Bay during the Labor Day weekend, but that doesn't make it right.…”