Terror Watch Lists are Unworkable
Office of the Inspector General Report Confirms ACLU Suspicions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: media@dcaclu.org
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) comments on a report on Terror Watch lists released today from the Office of the Inspector of the Department of Justice. The following can be attributed to Timothy Sparapani, Senior Legislative Counsel of the American Civil Liberties Union.
“The report is more confirmation that the watch lists are growing out of control and without controls. The Department of Justice Inspector General confirms what we all knew. The FBI has put law abiding Americans on the Watch List who never should have been there in the first place. And the FBI lacks procedures to remove innocent people from this morass. It’s time Congress stepped in and stopped this monstrosity. It is time to focus law enforcement efforts on suspected terrorists and not on innocent Americans.”
The Office of the Inspector General report mentions causes for the bloated watch list including lack of procedures how names get on the list by the FBI’s sister organizations within the Department of Justice. The report also found that FBI field agents added names to the list without proper vetting or quality control.
For more information on terror watch lists and a link to the For more information on the Watch List and for a link to watch list counter visit: www.aclu.org/privacy/spying/watchlistcounter.html
Stay informed
Every month, you'll receive regular roundups of the most important civil rights and civil liberties developments. Remember: a well-informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy policy.
The latest in National Security
ACLU's Vision
The American Civil Liberties Union is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.
Learn More About National Security
The ACLU’s National Security Project is dedicated to ensuring that U.S. national security policies and practices are consistent with the Constitution, civil liberties, and human rights.