Homeland Security and Civil Liberties

Abstract

The University of Pennsylvania Law School, the Institute for Strategic Threat Analysis and Response, and the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College conducted a conference dealing with Homeland Security and Civil Liberties on June 18, 2004, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event brought together experts from diverse organizations such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Armed Forces, Philadelphia Arab American Development Corporation, and several law schools. The conference examined national security issues related to civil liberties, immigration policy, privacy issues, first amendment rights, and the balance of executive and judicial power in relation to civil liberties and homeland security. Over 175 people interested in the intersection of national security, civil liberties, and associated legal issues participated in the conference. The key points can be summarized in the following sentences. The Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) is a challenge unprecedented in American history. It dictates a reexamination of the balance between national security and civil liberties to accomplish the dual goals of preventing future attacks and maintaining our commitment to the U.S. Constitution. Almost three years into the GWOT, we need to review domestic and international laws and policies to consider their continued viability and long-term implications. This includes the USA-PATRIOT Act and its interaction with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, U.S. criminal law, and international laws such as the Hague and Geneva Conventions. The tension between civil liberties and homeland security is extraordinarily complex with immigration policy, criminal law, privacy, First Amendment, and separation of powers dimensions, among others. Americans believe in their civil liberties and any compromises in them will be tolerated only to the extent absolutely necessary and for a finite period of time.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA430516

Entities

People

  • Douglas C. Lovelace Jr.
  • Leonard Wong

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Civil Rights
  • Congress
  • Criminals
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Foreign Intelligence
  • Geneva Conventions
  • Governments
  • Homeland Security
  • International Law
  • Law
  • National Security
  • Pennsylvania
  • Schools
  • Security
  • Universities
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Academic Conference Management
  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Strategic Security Studies