ICE Redefines Detainment For Wikileaks Helper: You're Not Being Detained, You Just Can't Leave
from the our-government-at-work dept
Earlier this year, we wrote about computer security expert, Tor developer and Wikileaks volunteer Jacob Appelbaum, who was regularly being detained and intimidated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials each time he (a US citizen) traveled into the country. If you follow Jacob's Twitter feed, you get detailed descriptions each time he flies back into the country of the hassles he has to go through. Every time he's detained and never once given an explanation for why or what is being searched for. He's often lied to and frequently told that it's a "random" search. He certainly knows enough that he wipes all of his electronic equipment before traveling across the border.In the latest case, upon returning from a conference in Europe by flying into Houston, Appelbaum again asked his detainers why he was being detained, and was once again not given a straight answer. He knows that there's something on the screen that they pull up on their computers, but they refuse to provide him with any info. This time, they even went so far as to redefine detainment, telling him that he wasn't being detained, but that he just couldn't go until they were done with him. Perhaps he should send Homeland Security a copy of a dictionary with the definition of "detained" highlighted.
Of course, this is also the same Jacob Appelbaum whom the US government has been secretly requesting information on from various online service providers, as the US government seeks to make its case against Wikileaks. Is it really so difficult for the US government to be upfront with Appelbaum about why he's being detained? Is it really a matter of national security that they can't say "hey, look, the Justice Department is frantically trying to find something -- anything -- that can be used in a case against Wikileaks, and we're coming up blank, so we're going to search your computer equipment based on nothing, just in case you might have something in there that we can use to prosecute Julian Assange."
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Filed Under: airport, detention, homeland security, ice, jacob appelbaum
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Police Officers Everywhere Rejoice
No need to get all dramatic about it.
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Re: Police Officers Everywhere Rejoice
This it what my country has become. So very sad.
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Re: Re: Police Officers Everywhere Rejoice
So now they're accusing him of being involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. That's what exercising freedom of speech will get you these days.
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Re: Re: Police Officers Everywhere Rejoice
http://fadingpulse.yellowcouch.org/vagina
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Maybe they're still under the delusion that people believe the American government's "free country" propaganda and can't admit that rights are violated as much there (if not more) as any other developed nation? I'm sure they can't actually admit to having violated numerous rights of one of its own citizens without some comeback, even if said violations are nakedly obvious.
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Re:
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BUT...BUT...
Wait - wrong story. Let's try that again.
BUT...BUT...TERRORISM!
There we go.
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Re: BUT...BUT...
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Redefining
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Re: Redefining
I guess at least of them is efficient at what they do...
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Papers, please.
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Re: Papers, please.
What freedom does anyone speak of? Don't tell me I'm free to say what I've just said, I've met locals who've said far less than this and have gotten a hold of over-100 page fbi files detailing surveillance of their homes and guests. Big, Fascist, Corporatist, Militarist Brother is watching you.
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Re: Re: Papers, please.
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Re: Re: Papers, please.
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Re:
George W. Bush:
Maybe this one video of his bloopers shows it I'm not sure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEbZqvMu2cQ
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Re: Re:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3B-WI5yJOw
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Re: Re:
Don't misunderestimate me
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Falling Down quote
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how did it happen?
"If you're not outraged, you are not paying attention!"
I'm extra pissy today. These people just put me in a bad mood.
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Re: how did it happen?
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- Bill Hicks
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Second, if this guy had assisted Manning, he would already be in the klink awaiting trial.
If they thought he helped him but didn't have hard evidence, then this is not the way to develop it if it exists. I'll let those 250 expert lawyers explain how the rules of evidence and investigations work. I have a feeling that any evidence generated would be tainted now.
Third, if this guy did assist Manning, the charges would probably be:
Aiding & abetting espionage.
Aiding enemies in time of war.
Accessory to murder. (The information released has gotten people killed)
Of course, we have the keystone kops running the justice department now and blowing cases is something they're demonstrating true competence in.
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[citation needed]
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FTFY
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Search Him!
It brings up a big red X, says "DETAIN AND SEARCH HIM!", and displays a picture of him naked from one of his previous scans. Apparently, he has quite the body.
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Other DHS helpful redefinitions
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Re: Other DHS helpful redefinitions
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Re: Re: Other DHS helpful redefinitions
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don't feed the animals
A few ideas that have crossed my mind:
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Re: don't feed the animals
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Re: don't feed the animals
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Re: don't feed the animals
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Re: don't feed the animals
A thumb drive and cd containing a virus that infects in multiple ways; Autoplay, Autorun, containing a straightfoward executable, a self-extracting zip file containing a virus, containing a GIFAR etc. The virus could be written to identify and bypass a virtual OS and install a root kit, spread itself only to other ICE devices and erase the hard drive after a couple of days.
He could warn them before hand: "You shouldn't look at that!"
disclaimer: I am not suggesting he or anyone actually do this, I'm jus sayin.
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Re: Re: don't feed the animals
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sad
If you ever wondered how German soldiers did what they did, you just need to look at your ICE agent, Quantico guard, or other government goon.
Just like their German colleagues at the time, they have the ability to follow orders without questioning them, and to serve the interests of the state above all else.
The tools to make the fascist state a reality are right there in those uniforms.
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Gladly
fun restaurants in houston
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