ACLU Sues DHS in the Case of Unlawful TSA Searches

Finally, there might be some reason that the ACLU gains my respect. The ACLU is suing the Department of Homeland Security in response to the unlawful TSA searches and detentions that violate the Constitution. This was in response to the recent unlawful detention of Steven Bierfeldt, who is the Director of Development for Campaign for Liberty. I reported earlier about Bierfeldt’s case, and how he was detained and interrogated by TSA officials at St. Louis International Airport for carrying a metal box of money through a security checkpoint.

The ACLU released this statement today regarding their lawsuit.

“Airport searches are the most common encounters between Americans and law enforcement agents. That’s why it is so important for TSA agents to do the job they were trained to do and not engage in fishing expeditions that do nothing to promote flight safety,” said Ben Wizner, a staff attorney with the ACLU National Security Project. “It is, of course, very important to ensure the safety of flights and keep illegal weapons and explosives off planes. But allowing TSA screeners to conduct general purpose law enforcement searches violates the Constitution while diverting limited resources from TSA’s core mission of protecting safety. For the sake of public safety and constitutional values, these unlawful searches should stop.”

We should be protected by the Constitution anywhere at any time, and this includes the airport. Mr. Bierfeldt, myself, or anyone else should not be threatened with unlawful searches or detention at any time, especially if they are doing nothing wrong. Hopefully, true justice will prevail in this case.