The Maine American Civil Liberties Union says it has filed a federal lawsuit demanding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection turn over information about citizenship security checkpoints across Maine.
The ACLU submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the federal agencies on Jan. 24, 10 days after CBP agents targeted a Concord Coach bus at the Bangor Transportation Center to inquire about passengers’ immigration status, according to the complaint, which was filed in U.S. District Court on Tuesday, according to the organization.
The organization said it filed the suit on Tuesday after the federal agencies failed to turn over information on its immigration checkpoints in Maine. Other plaintiffs on the suit include ACLU chapters in New Hampshire and Vermont.
“There is significant public interest in these records, as demonstrated by passengers and members of the public who have spoken up about the CBP’s intrusive operations,” according to the complaint. “Across the country, there have been increasing reports of CBP stopping bus passengers to check their citizenship status, without a warrant, reasonable suspicion, or probable cause.”
The County is pleased to feature content from our sister company, Bangor Daily News. To read the rest of “ACLU of Maine sues for records on citizenship checkpoints,” an article by contributing Bangor Daily News staff writer Alex Acquisto, please follow this link to the BDN online.
