USA patriot act has always been in news for several reasons since its inception. The government argued that the act is mandatory step for the security of the nation and to control the terrorist activities of the organizations and individuals who are a threat to the national security. On the other hand, human right organizations and people advocating for the individuals rights declare it against the basic principle of the constitution on which the country was founded. This paper discusses several aspects of the issue.
The patriot act was introduced by the president George w. bush in the year 2001 to reign the terrorist activities completely. The act was made after introducing a number of changes in the FISA. The new law gives wide rights to federal bureau of investigation to probe electronic, financial and all other records which they may think relevant for the security of the nation. The bush administration argued its necessity and called it the necessary to prevent incidents like 9/11.
However people and the organizations who oppose this act find it violating the privacy and liberty of the Americans which has been assured to them by the American constitution. Human rights activists declare the provision of this act unconstitutional which gives the FBI right to detain immigrants indefinitely and search their residence and business without their permission. A number of legal cases have been brought in the courts alleging the provisions of this law unconstitutional and courts declared these provisions unconstitutional.
It is good to conclude saying that the provisions of this act violate the privacy and liberty of the Americans and non Americans. The government should exercise its right and duty to ensure the security of the nation but simultaneously the human aspect of the issue should not be ignored.
Reference
Weiner, E. (2007, October 18). Npr. Retrieved March 23, 2012, from www.npr.org: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17805746
