American Civil Liberties Union : Safe and Free : USA PATRIOT Act

There has never been a more urgent need to preserve fundamental privacy protections and our system of checks and balances than the need we face today, as illegal government spying and government-sponsored torture programs transcend the bounds of law in the name of national security. Learn more about ACLU's National Security Project (NSP), which advocates for national security policies that are consistent with the Constitution, the rule of law, and fundamental human rights.

Safe and Free : USA PATRIOT Act : Press Releases

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Bill Introduced To Examine National Security Policies (04/30/2009)
WASHINGTON – A bill introduced in the House of Representatives today would create a congressional committee to examine national security policies including those related to torture, detention and surveillance. The Select Committee on National Security and Civil Liberties Act of 2009, introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI and Robert Wexler (D-FL), would study the development, implementation and effectiveness of past and present U.S. government practices

NSA Spies On Americans Outside The Law (04/16/2009)
WASHINGTON – The National Security Agency (NSA) has been intercepting Americans’ emails and phone calls in recent months to an extent that exceeded even the overbroad limits permitted under the controversial spying legislation passed last summer. According to the New York Times, the NSA’s “overcollection” of American’ communications has been “significant and systemic.”

Legislation Introduced To Curtail Patriot Act Abuse (03/30/2009)
WASHINGTON – Congressmen Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) introduced legislation today to narrow the overbroad subpoena power in the National Security Letter (NSL) provision of the Patriot Act. The bipartisan bill, National Security Letters Reform Act of 2009, aims to curb rampant abuse of that power by federal law enforcement following the expansion of the Patriot Act and was introduced with 17 cosponsors. NSLs are secret subpoenas used to demand personal customer records from Internet Service Providers, financial institutions and credit companies without prior court approval.

ACLU Releases Comprehensive Report On Patriot Act Abuses (03/11/2009)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union released a comprehensive report today examining widespread abuses that have occurred under the USA Patriot Act, a law that was rushed through Congress just 45 days after September 11. In the almost eight years since the passage of the controversial national security law, the Patriot Act has led to egregious government misconduct.

Attorney General Nominee Reveals Stance On Major Civil Liberties Issues (01/15/2009)
WASHINGTON – Today, during the first of two confirmation hearings, Attorney General-nominee Eric Holder was questioned on several issues that are relevant to ACLU’s legislative agenda for restoring meaningful checks on executive authority and preserving individual rights.

Safe and Free : USA PATRIOT Act : Legal Documents

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2nd Circuit Decision in Doe v. Gonzales (05/23/2006)
2nd Circuit Decision in Doe v. Gonzales

Judge Hall's opinion in NSL II CT case (09/09/2005)

ACLU v. Gonzales Redacted Preliminary Injunction (09/01/2005)

Safe and Free : USA PATRIOT Act : Legislative Documents

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Coalition Letter to Congress Urging Review Of Surveillance Laws (05/21/2009)

ACLU Letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano Regarding Ideological Exclusion (03/18/2009)
Urging the government to end the practice of ideological exclusion which compromises the vitality of academic and political debate in the United States. The practice was misguided during the Cold War and it is misguided now.

A Quick Glance at the ACLU's Legislative Priorities for the 111th Congress (01/13/2009)

ACLU Legislative Priorities for the 111th Congress (01/13/2009)

Statement of Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office, Submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee for a Hearing Entitled, “National Security Letters: The Need for Greater Accountability and Oversight” (04/23/2008)