First read on Homeland Stupidity, linked to the Washington Post:
Apology Note
Wednesday, November 29, 2006; 2:38 PM
The United States of America apologizes to Mr. Brandon Mayfield and his family for the suffering caused by the FBI’s misidentification of Mr. Mayfield’s fingerprint and the resulting investigation of Mr. Mayfield, including his arrest as a material witness in connection with the 2004 Madrid train bombings and the execution of search warrants and other court orders in the Mayfield family home and in Mr. Mayfield’s law office.
The United States acknowledges that the investigation and arrest were deeply upsetting to Mr. Mayfield, to Mrs. Mayfield, and to their three young children, and the United States regrets that it mistakenly linked Mr. Mayfield to this terrorist attack. The FBI has implemented a number of measures in an effort to ensure that what happened to Mr. Mayfield and the Mayfield family does not happen again.
“Deeply upsetting…”
I ask Americans from time to time if they know what is contained in the Patriot Act. Most don’t because they haven’t felt a direct impact from it. However, it has affected me, personally and directly. It’s an act that I can’t vote on, but has changed the course of my life in ways neither David nor I could have ever predicted. Because even though I was married to an American, I was not allowed access to our bank accounts or to write cheques (checks), nor could I execute my husband’s estate, or — more importantly — continue to live in our house… because I was denied a Social Security Number after he died. My immigration lawyer informed me that if I even so much as attended the scheduled biometrics appointment (the letter arrived the week after David died), it would be considered a fraudulent act and subject to prosecution (read: jail).
I had to leave the United States by mid-March (I was given 87 days from his date of death) or risk deportation and a ban of 12 years or life. And, for as long as Homeland Security keeps a file on me at the border, whenever I hand over my ID to pay a visit I am treated at best a potential illegal alien who is attempting re-entry, or at worst a terrorist. Every. Single. Time.
It may appear that Canada is government-heavy compared to the U.S. in daily life (work, health, etc.), but I would argue that the U.S. government has far too much of a different type of control — power over civil liberties.
Does America feel safer with the Patriot Act? After reading the story behind the apology note above, I’m sure the Mayfields would beg to differ.
Technorati tags: Homeland Security, politics, apology
Recent Comments