January 10, 2006
U.S.
officials are opening personal mail that arrives from abroad when they
deem it necessary to protect the country from terrorism, a Customs and
Border Protection spokeswoman said Monday.
News of the little-known practice follows
revelations that the government approved eavesdropping on U.S. citizens
without judicial oversight after the terrorist attacks of September 11,
2001, which sparked concern from civil liberties advocates and some
lawmakers, who called for congressional hearings.
"Customs and Border Protection is charged with
making sure that terrorists and terrorists' weapons don't enter the
country," said Suzanne Trevino, a spokeswoman for the customs agency,
which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. "One of our areas
of responsibility is to inspect international mail coming into our
country," she said. "We respect privacy and always keep that at the
forefront, but at the same time we need to make sure we do our job in
keeping U.S. citizens safe."
Customs and Border Protection's Website notes
that "all mail originating outside United States Customs territory that
is to be delivered inside U.S. Customs territory is subject to Customs
examination."
Grant Goodman, an 81-year-old retired history
professor, drew attention to the policy after a letter he received from
a colleague in the Philippines was opened and resealed by Customs and
Border Protection, and only then sent on to him.
He said he was shocked and amazed that the letter
- which he received last month from another retired history professor
with whom he has corresponded for 50 years - had been screened.
"It was a big surprise," Goodman, who taught
at the University of Kansas, told Reuters news agency. "The public
should know that this is being done. Nobody whom I know had any idea
that this was going on. And as far as I know, it's never been
announced. It's never been revealed that this is being done."
Trevino said she could not comment specifically
on Goodman's case because she had not seen the letter and was not sure
if it had been examined as he said. She did not say how often officials
open mail for security reasons.
Intellpuke: "Did America have a ballot
issue on amending the U.S. Constitution to do away with the Right to
Privacy? Geez, no one tells me anything! I guess those oaths that U.S.
elected officials swear to uphold and defend the Constitution aren't
worth squat these days.
You can read this Reuters news agency article in context here.
