It is obvious from his editorial (NI, Tuesday, March 31) that Manuel Coppola did not understand the point I was trying to make in my recent submission. So let me try again.
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I love this country and I am not embarrassed to say so. It is the greatest nation on earth because it has laws that respect and guarantee the rights of ordinary citizens such as you and me. When those rights are ignored, denied or compromised by an agent of the government, in this case the Border Patrol, we lose what makes this country great. It does not matter what "monster" you may be trying to tame. Fighting terrorism, drug trafficing, or illegal immigration does not justify infringing on the rights of U.S. citizens. My assertion of this fact is not "righteous indignation." It is simply recognition of the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution.
I have never been asked to provide proof of my citizenship at the checkpoint. Each time I have been questioned by Border Patrol agents, the questioning came after my citizenship had been acknowledged. This is a violation of my rights as a U.S. citizen. I am saddened that a man in Coppola’s position of influence and whose very livelihood depends on the First Amendment would have so little regard for this fact. And his apparent belief that the Border Patrol could have pulled me into secondary, strip-searched me and torn up my truck looking for contraband absent probable cause is truly scary. That's not the way government in this country is supposed to work.
As Justice William O. Douglas once wrote, "Those who already walk submissively will say there is no cause for alarm. But submissiveness is not our heritage â€- The Constitution was designed to keep government off the backs of the people â€- The aim was to allow men to be free and independent, and to assert their rights against government."
That is the battle I have chosen. I am disappointed that it is one Coppola doesn’t think worth fighting.
(Editor’s Note: Carey is a resident of Tumacacori.)






Comments
You go Benny wrote on Apr 10, 2009 11:32 AM:
Home wrote on Apr 9, 2009 1:22 PM:
So you are saying that your boyfriend thinks he can flash his credentials and get away with not stating his citizenship? There have been cases where the Government is running dope up to Tucson, and they used and abused their power to get past other agencies. "
You go Benny wrote on Apr 9, 2009 1:07 PM:
Benny wrote on Apr 8, 2009 12:44 PM:
Jon D wrote on Apr 7, 2009 8:46 AM:
First and foremost - the check point is only a small part of a large "layered enforcement" effort by the U.S. Border Patrol who have very little to NO CONTROL of the border in Southern Az.
This IS a simple fact but one that Border Patrol will never admit.
I understand the need to increase our National security - but I solely believe that these check points violate our (US Citizens) Constitutional Rights. If my travels have taken me nowhere near the Mexican/American Border - why should I be stopped by a US Federal Officer and questioned about my citizenship? Why should I have to have proof of my citizenship is I am within my own country and have done absolutely nothing wrong? Where or what is the probable cause for delaying or detaining me at a check point? Is there a Federal Law that states that I have to have a US Passport or Birth Certificate with me 24 hours a day?
I just believe that Border Patrol needs to get back to doing what needs to be done -
Secure our Nations Border - AT THE BORDER, not 30 miles north! "
Arrogant wrote on Apr 4, 2009 7:57 AM:
not el scoops wrote on Apr 3, 2009 11:18 PM:
retrohasen wrote on Apr 3, 2009 5:24 PM:
I have had some wondeful conversations with the high ranking Border Patrols officials from the Tucson sector and I always treat them with the same respect that I treat everyone else that is doing their job. I know they have a difficult job to do and if we could actually secure the border at the border, just think how much easier their jobs could be.
Thanks Ms. Carey for fighting for all of us who value being an american citizen. "
Mam wrote on Apr 3, 2009 3:46 PM:
or residence does not guarantee that you are not capable of committing a crime. Unfortunately this is the world we live in today, so any help from law enforcement is greatly appreciated by me. "