American Civil Liberties Union

National Security:
Throughout U.S. history "national security" has often been used as a pretext for massive violations of individual rights. The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 mobilized our country in the fight against terrorism. However, this also launched a serious civil liberties crises. The ACLU continues to challenge policies like the USA Patriot Act, and creates campaigns like Safe and Free.


ACLU Blog of Rights ACLU Legacy Challenge - See and Hear What Others Have Done

Freedom Files - Season 2
Ideological Exclusion

ACLU NewsfeedsACLU News Feed
ACLU Blog
ACLU Podcasts

National Security : Legislative Documents

How the Anti-Terrorism Bill Puts CIA Back in the Business of Spying on Americans (10/23/2001)

Letter to the Senate Urging Rejection on the Final Version of the USA PATRIOT Act (10/23/2001)

How the Anti-Terrorism Bill Allows for Detention of People Engaging in Innocent Associational Activity (10/23/2001)

How the Anti-Terrorism Bill Expands Law Enforcement "Sneak and Peek" Warrants (10/23/2001)

How the Anti-Terrorism Bill Limits Judicial Oversight of Telephone and Internet Surveillance (10/23/2001)

How the Anti-Terrorism Bill Permits Indefinite Detention of Immigrants (10/23/2001)

How the Anti-Terrorism Bill Puts Financial Privacy at Risk (10/23/2001)

Letter to the House Urging Rejection on the Final Version of the USA PATRIOT Act (10/23/2001)

How the Anti-Terrorism Bill Puts Student Privacy at Risk (10/23/2001)

How the Anti-Terrorism Bill Enables Law Enforcement to Use Intelligence Authorities to Circumvent the Privacy Protections Afforded in Criminal Cases (10/23/2001)

Sign-on Letter to House and Senate Judiciary Committees On Covert Searches Provisions in Anti-Terrorism Legislation (10/19/2001)

Letter to Attorney General Ashcroft Expressing Concerns on Lack of Information on Persons Arrested or Detained Since September 11 Attacks (10/17/2001)

Letter to the House Urging Opposition to the "Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001"; the Oxley Bill (10/16/2001)

Testimony of Legislative Counsel Timothy Edgar Before the United States Commission on Civil Rights On Changes in Immigration Detention Practices and the Impact of Proposed Legislation on the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of Citizens and Immigrants (10/12/2001)

Click to show/hide issues list
Your Local ACLUcongressional scorecardmultimediaforumspublicationssupport usstorecontact