So you thought the Feds were only checking your emails...
Customs: Letters from abroad subject to
screening. They're checking our mail, now, as well.
U.S. officials are opening personal mail that arrives from abroad when they deem it necessary to protect the country from terrorism, a Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman said Monday.
“Customs and Border Protection is charged with making sure that terrorists and terrorists’ weapons don’t enter the country,” said Suzanne Trevino, a spokeswoman for the customs agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security.
Grant Goodman, an 81-year-old retired history professor, drew attention to the policy after a letter he received from a colleague in the Philippines was opened and resealed by Customs and Border Protection, and only then sent on to him.
“It was a big surprise,” Goodman, who taught at the University of Kansas, told Reuters. “The public should know that this is being done. Nobody whom I know had any idea that this was going on. And as far as I know, it’s never been announced. It’s never been revealed that this is being done.”
I’ve been down this road before; so, I’m not surprised if my mail is snooped, my phone and emails eavesdropped. I’ve been part of one successful class action suit for illegal wiretapping in the past — I’ve already volunteered for the next.
I expect little or nothing to be done until there’s a sea change in Congress — and until enough Americans who rationalize away our Constitution on behalf of piddling partisan politics stand up and join in to oppose this crap.
Posted: Tue - January 10, 2006 at 06:30 AM