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ACLU Cheers Failure of Real ID Sucker Money Proposal
Washington, DC - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the failure of an amendment offered to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill that would have authorized $300 million of federal funding for states to implement the Real ID driver’s license program, which has been estimated by DHS to cost $23.1 billion. The ACLU deemed the proposal "sucker money" because it aimed to entice states to accept a paltry amount of funding for a flawed program that would ultimately cost millions more in state taxes and licensing fees.

ACLU Calls on Congress to Assert its Constitutional Role
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union called on Congress today to reaffirm itself as an equal branch of government and vote to hold White House officials in contempt for refusing to cooperate with legitimate congressional subpoenas. Calling this a constitutional crisis that threatens to destroy the separation of powers, the ACLU reminded Congress that its oversight and legislative role are vital.

ACLU Urges Senate to Hold Attorney General Accountable for False Testimony
Washington, DC - Today, the American Civil Liberties Union urged the Senate Judiciary Committee once again to demand that the attorney general answer its questions thoroughly and honestly. In his third appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee this year, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales faces tough questions about a litany of issues including the firings of US attorneys, the FBI’s use of datamining and the abuse of National Security Letters (NSLs). In previous testimony, Mr. Gonzales frequently left questions unanswered and, in 2005, misled a Senate committee about his knowledge of civil liberties violations connected with misuse of NSLs.

ACLU Warns Against “Sucker Money” Plot to Save Real ID
Washington, DC – The American Civil Liberties Union warned today that proposals afloat in Congress to provide limited funding to states for implementation of the Real ID Act would amount to nothing more than “sucker money” that would cover only a fraction of Real ID’s costs. The ACLU said that state officials should not be fooled, and released a “Sucker Money Calculator” to estimate just how much states will still be stuck paying under current proposals.

ACLU Calls for Independent Oversight of FBI
WASHINGTON - Today the American Civil Liberties Union expressed its skepticism following the Department of Justice’s announcement of two new internal oversight offices. The department is creating an Oversight Section for its National Security Division and a bureau-wide Office of Integrity and Compliance for the FBI. The Justice Department says the additions are aimed at enforcing adherence to agency guidelines and protecting civil liberties.

ACLU Applauds Amendment to Close Guantanamo Bay Detention Center
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union applauds today’s filing of an amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill that would close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. As the Senate debates the defense measure, which authorizes the Department of Defense for the next fiscal year, the American public is ensured that a debate and vote on the closure of Guantanamo Bay will now occur. The amendment was put forth by Senators Feinstein, Harkin, Dodd, Clinton, Brown, Bingaman, Kennedy, Whitehouse and Obama.

ACLU Outraged At Attorney General’s False Testimony
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union expressed its outrage that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales lied to Congress in order to make a case for reauthorization of the Patriot Act in 2005. The Attorney General testified that he was unaware of any civil liberties abuses that had taken place with the use of NSLs, which allow FBI agents to request records without court approval. But contrary to Gonzales’ testimony internal FBI documents show he was well aware of the abuses. The documents were received through a freedom of information request from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. He and other members of the administration went on to testify that no abuses of the Patriot Act had ever occurred before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in April of 2005.

ACLU Urges Congress to Create Real Immigration Reform, Not Reliance on Unworkable Real ID Poison Pill
Washington, DC - The American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office today responded to the defeat of the Senate immigration bill by saying the legislation was unworkable and reduced every U.S. resident’s due process, judicial review and privacy rights. The bill was stalled last night when an amendment on Real ID passed, shooting down the so-called “clay pigeon” package of amendments and throwing a wrench in the entire bill. Senators voted against advancing the legislation this morning, which effectively killed the bill.

Real ID Rebellion Stalls Massive Senate Immigration Bill Over Fight for Privacy and Against Real ID, ACLU says
WASHINGTON, DC - An amendment to the Senate immigration bill eliminating all references to a Real ID driver’s license was not killed today as expected, holding up the Senate immigration bill while amendments hang in the balance.

ACLU Commends Spying Subpoenas
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union lauded Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) today after he issued the first round of subpoenas regarding the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation into the administration’s domestic spying program. Today Senator Leahy issued subpoenas to the White House and the office of Vice President Dick Cheney. Last week the committee voted to authorize the use of subpoenas to obtain documents related to the National Security Agency’s warrantless wiretapping program. The ACLU launched a webpage in reaction to the vote, which will track the administration’s compliance with the subpoenas.

ACLU to Keep Tabs on Spying Investigation
Washington, DC - In reaction to a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on subpoenas, the American Civil Liberties Union launched a website today that will scrutinize the investigation process. Last Thursday, the committee voted to authorize the use of subpoenas to obtain documents related to the National Security Agency’s warrantless wiretapping program. The ACLU website, Subpoena Watch, will list items and testimony that the organization feels must be obtained and will monitor the progress of the committee’s work.

ACLU Commends Congressional Subpoenas for Spy Documents
WASHINGTON – Since the disclosure of the National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance program in December of 2005, few facts about the origins of the program have come to light. Today the American Civil Liberties Union applauded the Senate Judiciary Committee for scheduling a vote to authorize subpoenas for documents on the legal underpinnings of the President’s wiretapping programs.

ACLU of Louisiana Urges Legislature to Reject National ID
BATON ROUGE - The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana today urged the state legislature to join the growing list of states that have rebelled against the Real ID Act—a giant unfunded Congressional mandate that would federalize Louisiana drivers' licenses, turn them into a national ID system, and force them to give up sensitive information for storage in a national database.

Historic Rally and Day of Action Expected to Draw Thousands from Across the Country
WASHINGTON, DC – Thousands of Americans are storming Capitol Hill to participate in a ‘Day of Action to Restore Law and Justice’ to rally and then call on Congress to restore habeas corpus, fix the Military Commissions Act, end torture and rendition and restore our constitutional rights. Activists from all fifty states will gather at Upper Senate Park on June 26, 2007 and deliver tens of thousands of signatures to Congress, urging the restoration of our rights.

ACLU Hears Administration’s Plan for Spying Law, Says Congress Cannot Legislate Without Investigating
Washington, DC - In a meeting today with the office of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the American Civil Liberties Union rebuffed attempts to “modernize” the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The ACLU and other privacy groups and academics met with the DNI at the invitation of the DNI to discuss the broad changes that the Bush Administration and Department of Justice are seeking to make to FISA.

ACLU Urges Oversight of Gonzales’s Record
Washington, DC - In the wake of a Congressional no-confidence vote on Attorney General Gonzales, the American Civil Liberties Union once again urged a thorough investigation into the Department of Justice. The resolution, introduced in the Senate, states that Gonzales "no longer holds the confidence of the Senate or American people."

ACLU Praises Suspension of Traveling Restrictions That Don’t Fly
WASHINGTON, DC - The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed a temporary withdrawal of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) that required Americans to show a passport when traveling to countries bordering the United States. Formerly, such travel required only a valid driver’s license. The ACLU has spoken out against the new travel restrictions, pointing to their excessive restrictions on Americans, disregard for privacy and ultimate unworkability.

ACLU Applauds Senate Judiciary Committee Action Restoring Habeas Corpus Due Process Rights
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union applauds the Senate Judiciary Committee’s action to restore the crucial writ of habeas corpus. Today, the committee meets to mark up pending legislation, including S. 185 - a bill to restore habeas corpus for those detained by the United States. The habeas bill is expected to pass out of committee today and head to the Senate floor within the month.

ACLU Asks Congress to Use Subpoena Powers for Spy Documents: Calls for an End to Warrantless Wiretapping
Washington, DC – The American Civil Liberties Union testified today before a Congressional panel about the National Security Agency’s warrantless wiretapping program. The hearing – the first held on the NSA program in the 110th Congress – was held by the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. Since the disclosure of the NSA’s program in December of 2005, the ACLU has been actively seeking answers both in the courts and Congress.

ACLU to Senate: The Nation Opposes Real ID, It’s Time To Scrap It
WASHINGTON, DC - The American Civil Liberties Union today called on Senators to support legislation stripping Real ID provisions from the Senate immigration bill. A flurry of recent activity in the state legislatures in the past week has made it clearer than ever that Americans oppose the act, and Congress needs to respond by repealing, not expanding Real ID. The ACLU also reported that a systematic review of 10,000 citizen comments on Real ID filed with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that they were almost uniformly negative.