DHS's Domestic Intelligence Program Raises Legal Concerns
POLITICO Reveals DHS's Secret Intelligence Program and Employee Concerns Over Its Legality
According to a new report out this morning by Politico, the Department of Homeland Security runs a little-known program that collects domestic intelligence by questioning people across the US, including those in detention centers, local jails, and federal prisons, according to documents obtained by Politico. The program, called the Overt Human Intelligence Collection Program (OHICP), raises civil liberties concerns since officials are allowed to seek interviews with almost anyone, including those who have been incarcerated, circumventing their lawyers. Legal experts argue that this is an infringement on constitutional privileges. However, the program was paused last year due to internal concerns about the legality of the tactics used.
The program is designed to gather intelligence about threats to the US, such as organized crime and transnational drug trafficking. The DHS Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, Kenneth Wainstein, has stated that his office is addressing employees' concerns. Carrie Bachner, formerly the senior legislative adviser to the DHS undersecretary for intelligence, has said that directly questioning Americans in domestic intelligence programs is highly concerning. She has raised her concerns with Congress, stating that she does not believe any counsel would sign off on such a program. The documents reveal that many employees have expressed concerns about their work potentially being illegal. The internal documents also show that people working at the agency are afraid of punishment if they report mismanagement and abuse.
And for many Americans, the idea of a government agency collecting intelligence on American citizens is deeply troubling, regardless of whether or not it is technically legal. Libertarians especially believe in the principle of limited government, and see the government’s role as primarily providing for the common defense, protecting property rights, and enforcing contracts. The government should not be in the business of collecting intelligence on its own citizens, as this is a violation of their privacy and civil liberties.
In fact, some would argue that the very existence of the Department of Homeland Security is an affront to individual liberty, as it represents an expansion of the federal government’s power and authority over the lives of American citizens. They would argue that the DHS is a prime example of government overreach and that it is inherently prone to abuse and corruption.
This is not to say that some Americans are opposed to all forms of government intelligence-gathering. Even some libertarians support intelligence-gathering activities that are narrowly targeted and focused on specific threats to national security, such as terrorism or foreign espionage. However, they would also argue that any such activities should be subject to strict oversight and accountability, and should not be used as a pretext for collecting information on American citizens who are not suspected of any wrongdoing.
The revelations revealed in this report from Politico about the Department of Homeland Security’s domestic intelligence program are deeply concerning to all Americans, who see such a program as a violation of individual privacy and civil liberties. While some may argue that the program is necessary for protecting national security, others would argue that any such activities must be subject to strict oversight and accountability, and should not be used as a pretext for collecting information on American citizens who are not suspected of any wrongdoing. Ultimately, the government’s role in intelligence-gathering should be limited, narrowly focused, and subject to strict constitutional limits, in order to protect the rights and freedoms of all Americans.