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ACLU Returns to Court Over Patriot Act Provision (09/25/2006)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union, the New York Civil Liberties Union and an Internet Service Provider that is subject to an FBI gag order have filed new legal papers challenging the reauthorized Patriot Act's National Security Letter (NSL) provision. Included in the documents is a previously unreleased declaration from the "John Doe" plaintiff detailing the personal and professional strain caused by the gag, which was imposed at the time Doe received an NSL.

New Military Commissions Compromise Gives License to Abuse Prisoners, ACLU Says Dangerous Proposal Must Be Rejected (09/21/2006)
WASHINGTON - Following announcements that an agreement has been reached between the White House and Senators John Warner (R-VA), John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on military commissions, the American Civil Liberties Union today said the compromise agreement does not protect due process, fails to meet international treaty obligations and urged lawmakers to reject the deal.

State Groups' Cost Estimate, Call for Revisions Should Be Final Straw For Real ID Act, ACLU Says (09/21/2006)
NEW YORK-- New minimum estimates for the cost of the Real ID Act to the states should make it clear to Congress that it needs to repeal the act, the American Civil Liberties Union said today. A call for major changes in, and delay of Real ID by nonpartisan governors' and state legislators' groups that jointly issued the cost estimate also highlights the troubles faced by the act, the ACLU said.

Idaho Judge Rules That Government Cannot Use Material Witness Statute to Detain People As Suspects (09/20/2006)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union announced today that Judge Edward J. Lodge of the U.S. District Court in Idaho has ruled that federal material witness laws cannot be used to preventively detain or investigate suspects. The court made clear that the material witness law may only be used when the individual is genuinely sought as a witness and where there is genuine risk of flight.

ACLU Slams House Panels’ Approval of Wilson NSA Spying Bill, Says Measure Undermines Constitution, Condones Abuse of Power (09/20/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly rebuked the House Judiciary Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence as both committees approved H.R. 5825, the "Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act." That bill, authored by Representative Heather Wilson (R-NM) would give the president unprecedented power and authorize the warrantless surveillance program conducted by the National Security Agency.

House Panel Flip-Flops on Military Commission Bill, ACLU Says Proposal Undermines Due Process, Geneva Conventions (09/20/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today condemned the House Judiciary Committee as that panel approved the White House’s proposal on military commissions after an earlier vote to reject it. Earlier, the committee failed, on a vote of 17-20, to approve H.R. 6054, with Representatives Jeff Flake (R-NM), Bob Inglis (R-SC) and Louie Gohmert (R-TX) voting with the Democratic members. The committee then moved to report the proposal with an unfavorable recommendation. However, the committee later revisited the issue, and on a vote of 20-19, approved the bill favorably.

ACLU, JACL Urge Senate Panel to Reject Detention Without Charge, Says Approval Would Violate Constitution, American Values (09/14/2006)
WASHINGTON - As the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security met today to consider differences between American and British anti-terrorism laws, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) urged lawmakers to reject any proposal to give the government the power to detain individuals indefinitely without charge, citing serious civil liberties concerns.

House Panel Passes Flawed Military Commission Bill, ACLU Urges Congress to Stand for Due Process and Rule of Law (09/13/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today condemned legislation passed by the House Armed Services Committee that establishes rules to try detainees. The bill also would amend the War Crimes Act to gut the Geneva Conventions.

ACLU Slams Senate Judiciary Committee’s Approval of NSA Spying Bills (09/13/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly rebuked the Senate Judiciary Committee for adopting legislation that approves warrantless spying on Americans by the National Security Agency. The move follows a recent court decision finding the surveillance both illegal and unconstitutional. The Bush administration has thus far stonewalled efforts by the committee to conduct meaningful oversight over the program.

ACLU Victorious in First Challenge to Ohio Patriot Act (09/13/2006)
COLUMBUS, OH -- Today, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that attorneys seeking to represent indigent clients are no longer required to sign documents swearing that they are not terrorists and have no involvement with terrorist groups. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio had challenged the provision, which is part of the Ohio Patriot Act, calling the requirement unnecessary red tape that will do nothing to prevent terrorism.

Five Years After 9/11 Attacks, the Fight to Uphold Americans' Fundamental Freedoms and the Constitution Continues, ACLU Chief Says (09/11/2006)
NEW YORK - In the five years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, Americans have successfully kept the light of freedom shining even as the Bush administration has consistently violated the spirit and letter of our laws, the American Civil Liberties Union said today.

ACLU and Allies Oppose Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, Say Plan Undermines Privacy, Provides Little Security (09/07/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today joined with Citizen Against Government Waste and the Cato Institute to oppose the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The WHTI will require all travelers, including American citizens, to have a passport or other "appropriate security document" to enter or re-enter the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere, including Canada and Mexico.

ACLU Demands House Reject Attempts to “Update” FISA, Says Constitution Must Not Be Undermined in Election-Year Tactic (09/06/2006)
WASHINGTON - Today the American Civil Liberties Union urged the House of Representatives to reject attempts to erode Fourth Amendment protections under the guise of "updating" the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), as the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security met to consider several proposals that would condone President Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program.

ACLU: Bush Guts Geneva Conventions Enforcement and Undermines Due Process (09/06/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed opposition to the president’s proposal to try detainees and to amend the War Crimes Act to gut enforceability of the Geneva Conventions. In addition, the Department of Defense released an updated Army Field Manual on Interrogations that diminishes protections against abuse. At the same time, the president has also directed at least 14 prisoners held at CIA secret "black sites" to be transferred to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and tried there.

ACLU Seeks Information on Government Spying on Baltimore Peace Groups (08/30/2006)
BALTIMORE -- Following reports that Baltimore peace groups have been targets of illegal spying, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland today filed public information requests with federal and state authorities. The ACLU said it is concerned that the disturbing national trend of government surveillance of political and religious groups may also be happening here in the "Free State."

ACLU of Massachusetts Renews Call for Public Hearing into Role of Phone Companies in Illegal Domestic Spying (08/23/2006)
BOSTON – Rejecting wildly overblown assertions that private phone companies can hide behind a “state secrets” argument, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today said it has filed legal papers with the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy (DTE) calling for a prompt public hearing on a May 2006 complaint against Verizon and AT&T for their reported role in facilitating illegal government spying on ordinary Americans.

ACLU of New Mexico Sues DEA, Police Officers for Roughing Up Amtrak Passengers (08/21/2006)
ALBUQUERQUE – The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico filed a lawsuit today against a federal drug enforcement agent and two police officers who illegally searched and roughed up an Armenian couple last summer while their Amtrak train was stopped in Albuquerque. Today’s lawsuit seeks multiple violations of the civil rights of both individuals.

Federal Court Strikes Down NSA Warrantless Surveillance Program (08/17/2006)
DETROIT -- In an American Civil Liberties Union case, a federal court today ruled that the Bush administration’s program to monitor the phone calls and e-mails of Americans without warrants is unconstitutional and must be stopped. This is the first ruling by a federal court to strike down the controversial National Security Agency surveillance program.

Attorney General Gonzales Calls for Ratification of Illegal NSA Program, ACLU Urges Congress to Reject Call and Stand for the Constitution (08/16/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly condemned a call by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for Congress to legalize the warrantless surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency. Specifically, he supported a bill crafted by Vice-President Dick Cheney and Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) that would give the president the option of complying – or not – with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the protections of the Fourth Amendment.

ACLU of Ohio Calls on Police and Local Communities to Stop Profiling (08/15/2006)
MARIETTA, OH - The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today cautioned law enforcement officials and local communities against allowing fears of terrorism to justify ethnic and racial profiling. The statement comes after a week of speculation that two Lebanese-American men arrested in Marietta may have been involved in terrorism because of “suspicious” activities. Yesterday, both men were cleared of all terrorism charges.