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Frist Kills Pentagon Spending Bill to Protect Abusive Interrogations; Top Torture Scandal Figure Gets Confirmation Hearing (07/26/2005)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed deep concern that-on the same day as the Senate majority leader canceled a vote on the entire Pentagon spending bill because of an amendment that would have banned cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment-a top figure in the ongoing torture scandal is being promoted to the number two post at the Justice Department.

Government Report Shows TSA Violated Privacy Act with Screening Program; Used Passengers' Private Records Without Telling Congress or the Public (07/22/2005)
WASHINGTON - The Government Accountability Office, Congress' non-partisan investigative arm, today confirmed that the Transportation Security Administration used personal information to test a controversial passenger-screening program, without telling Congress or airline travelers. The ACLU cited the move, which violates the Privacy Act, as yet another reason why lawmakers should protect Americans' privacy by scrapping the Secure Flight program.

Defense Department Refuses to Turn Over Abuse Photographs; Asks to File Secret Brief Justifying Refusal (07/22/2005)
NEW YORK - Today, July 22, was the day the government was supposed to process and redact photographs and videos relating to the abuse and torture of prisoners held abroad. Raising new arguments on the eve of its deadline, the United States government refused to release the materials to the public. The photographs and videos were to be processed for eventual release as a result of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations.

NYCLU Urges Commuters to Report Experiences with Police Bag Searches on Mass Transit (07/22/2005)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today launched an online form for commuters to report their encounters with police conducting searches on public transportation. The NYCLU will analyze the complaints and possibly challenge the constitutionality of the methods and practices used by the police in conducting these searches.

ACLU Says Lawmakers Failed to Protect the Constitution; House Approved Flawed Patriot Act Bill (07/21/2005)
WASHINGTON - Following the passage of the House of Representatives' flawed attempt to reauthorize the Patriot Act late tonight, the American Civil Liberties Union said the measure undermines the very freedoms and liberties that define America. House leadership denied members the ability to consider several amendments to the underlying proposal that would have brought the 2001 law in line with the Constitution by restoring proper checks and balances on government power.

Senate Committee's Positive Steps on Patriot Act Welcome, But Flaws Remain (07/21/2005)
WASHINGTON - On the same day the House of Representatives is expected to vote on a Patriot Act reauthorization bill, the American Civil Liberties Union today called legislation unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee to modify the act a step in the right direction, but said that it still fails to fully protect the Bill of Rights.

House Rules Committee Shuts Out Needed Patriot Act Reforms, Yet Adds "Smokeless Tobacco" Amendment (07/21/2005)
WASHINGTON - Following a late night meeting of the House Rules Committee yesterday on legislation to reauthorize the Patriot Act, the American Civil Liberties Union today expressed its disappointment that the final floor debate will exclude several much-needed amendments to bring the controversial 2001 law in line with the Constitution by restoring proper checks and balances on government power. The committee rejected more than half of the amendments offered for consideration.

ACLU Calls House Attempt to Renew Patriot Act a "Rush Job," Urges Congress to Allow Time for Thorough Public Debate (07/19/2005)
WASHINGTON -At a press briefing held today, Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances, a right-left coalition including the American Civil Liberties Union, said that portions of the Patriot Act do not expire until the end of the year, and that rushing through unwise legislation to reauthorize the act without fixing it months before it expires, threatens the civil liberties of every American. Coalition members urged the House to give the Patriot Act full, public consideration before voting on its reauthorization.

FBI Is Keeping Documents on ACLU and Other Peaceful Groups (07/18/2005)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union today revealed that the FBI has amassed more than 1,100 pages of documents on its organization since 2001, as well as documents concerning other non-violent groups including Greenpeace and United for Peace and Justice.

Abuse Without High Level Accountability; ACLU Dismayed at Lack of Reprimand For Top General (07/13/2005)
WASHINGTON - In anticipation of the release of a long-awaited government inquiry into the interrogation practices used by American personnel at Guantánamo Bay, the American Civil Liberties Union today said that the government broke the law and failed to hold the higher levels of the military accountable. The failure to reprimand the commanding general at Guantánamo was another demonstration of the military's inability to hold itself accountable.

ACLU Urges Congress to Modify Patriot Act to Restore Checks and Balances As House Committees Consider Reauthorization Bills (07/13/2005)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged Congress to modify the Patriot Act to protect Americans' civil liberties and not simply approve cosmetic changes. Two key House committees meet today to consider legislation to reauthorize the anti-terrorism law, and both chambers of Congress are expected to vote on Patriot bills in the coming weeks.

ACLU Says House Committees Failed to Bring Patriot Act in Line with Constitution; Lawmakers Approved Cosmetic, Not Substantive, Reforms (07/13/2005)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed its disappointment with the two key House committees that considered legislation to reauthorize the Patriot Act, citing the unwillingness by lawmakers to reject a power grab by the administration and restore proper checks and balances to the anti-terrorism law. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to consider similar legislation soon.

ACLU Says House Committees Failed to Bring Patriot Act in Line with Constitution; Lawmakers Approved Cosmetic, Not Substantive, Reforms (07/13/2005)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed its disappointment with the two key House committees that considered legislation to reauthorize the Patriot Act, citing the unwillingness by lawmakers to reject a power grab by the administration and restore proper checks and balances to the anti-terrorism law. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to consider similar legislation soon.

Hundreds of New Yorkers Rally to Reform the Patriot Act (07/12/2005)
NEW YORK -- Hundreds of activists led by the New York Civil Liberties Union and the New York Bill of Rights Defense Campaign took to the streets today, calling on Congress to reform the Patriot Act.

ACLU Says Patriot Act Must Be Reformed, Not Expanded, As Congress Considers Reauthorization (07/11/2005)
WASHINGTON - With both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees expected to consider bills to reauthorize - and possibly expand - the Patriot Act this week, the American Civil Liberties Union today called upon lawmakers to bring the law in line with the Constitution by restoring checks and balances on government power.

American Detained in Iraq Released Following ACLU Action (07/10/2005)
LOS ANGELES -- Following a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Los Angeles documentary filmmaker and Navy veteran Cyrus Kar and his cameraman were released today after more than 50 days held by U.S. military forces in an Iraqi detention center.

ACLU, Family Members Sue for Release of American Citizen Detained in Iraq (07/06/2005)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit against top U.S. government officials on behalf of the family of an American citizen detained indefinitely in Iraq for nearly two months without charge or access to his family or a lawyer, demanding that the man be released and returned to his home in Los Angeles.

New York Civil Liberties Union Urges Members of Congress to Support the SAFE Act (06/30/2005)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today urged members of New York's Congressional delegation to restore basic rights and freedoms by supporting legislation that would reform provisions of the USA Patriot Act that undermine civil rights and civil liberties. The NYCLU also called on lawmakers to oppose legislation that would reinstate sections of the Patriot Act that are scheduled to sunset.

ACLU Slams Plan to Place Parts of FBI Under Control of Intelligence Agencies, Warns of Further Mixing Law Enforcement With Intelligence Operations (06/29/2005)
WASHINGTON - Following reports the president will push for the Department of Justice to create a National Security Service within the FBI that reports to the Director of National Intelligence, the American Civil Liberties Union said the shift would lead to an erosion of constitutional protections against law enforcement actions. The change would affect the Justice Department's counterterrorism, espionage and intelligence units.

ACLU Applauds Congressional Inquiry Into Government Watchlists, Says Secure Flight Program Still Plagued With Problems and Cannot Be Launched (06/29/2005)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded a key House panel for holding an oversight hearing on screening programs for airline passengers. Of particular concern is the controversial Secure Flight screening program, which has continuously been delayed due to unaddressed privacy and effectiveness concerns.