Terror Suspect List Yields Few Arrests

[cal04]

Source: Washington Post

Critics Question Effect on Privacy

The government's terrorist screening database flagged Americans and foreigners as suspected terrorists almost 20,000 times last year. But only a small fraction of those questioned were arrested or denied entry into the United States.

A range of state, local and federal agencies as well as U.S. embassies overseas rely on the database to pinpoint terrorism suspects, who can be identified at borders or even during routine traffic stops. The database consolidates a dozen government watch lists, as well as a growing number of new sources. The government said it was planning to expand the data-sharing to private-sector groups with a "substantial bearing on homeland security," though officials would not be more specific.

Few specifics are known about how the system operates, how many people are detained or turned back from borders, or the criteria used to identify suspects. The government will not discuss cases, nor will it confirm whether an individual's name is on its list.

Slightly more than half of the 20,000 encounters last year were logged by Customs and Border Protection officers, who turned back or handed over to authorities 550 people, most of them foreigners, Customs officials said. FBI and other officials said that they could not provide data on the number of people arrested or denied entry for the other half of the database hits. FBI officials indicated that the number of arrests was small.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/24/AR2007082402256.html?hpid=topnews

[lligrd]

1. Everyone Know This Database Is A Joke

Hell, the real terrorist's names (George W. Bush, Richard Cheney aka The Dick, Donald Rumsfeld etc.)aren't even included.

[struggle4progress]

2. According to the article, Ahern wants more spying on US citizens

[struggle4progress]

3. And here's a link on the Martinez case:

Colo. man wins watch list suit
By The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 07/31/2007 01:46:05 PM MDT

Santa Fe, N.M. — An activist attorney from Colorado received $106,500 to settle two federal lawsuits that claimed he was illegally detained at traffic stops in New Mexico, Colorado and Illinois because his name appeared on an FBI terrorist-watch list ... "The significant concessions made to Martinez add to the mounting evidence that the war against terrorism is being conducted unlawfully and in disregard of the Constitution," the news release said ... Martinez, an activist in the Chicano movement, alleged he was improperly added to a terrorist watch list because of crimes for which he was charged in 1973. His name was cleared of those allegations in the 1980s ... His attorney maintained Martinez didn't meet the criteria for the FBI's watch list and was placed there because of his political beliefs ...

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_6508654

[Demeter]

4. Because There Are Bridges and Tunnels and Dams Destroyed Every Day Here

Of course, by a combination of crony contracts, neglect by federal and state officials, and sheer age. So let's arrest the corporations, the politicians, and Father Time!

[madeline_con]

5. "... the number of arrests was small."

Cat Stevens and a few others were briefly detained. :rofl:

[6000eliot]

6. Gee, I wonder how many right-wing militia men and abortion bombers are on that list.