CBC - Flyers passing through U.S. have few rights, Arar judge told

[democracy eh]

"A senior lawyer for the U.S. government has told a judge hearing a lawsuit over Maher Arar's deportation that foreign citizens passing through American airports have almost no rights."

"Mary Mason told a hearing in Brooklyn, N.Y., that the government is interpreting its powers in such a way that passengers never intending to enter the U.S. connecting to international flights at U.S. airports must prove they are no threat and could be allowed to enter the country."

"Someone who's inadmissible is in the same category as the people that the CIA snatches and grabs from other countries," said Barbara Olshansky, a lawyer for the U.S.-based Center for Constitutional Rights, which is suing a number of U.S. officials on Arar's behalf." "You are fair game for however executive branch wants to treat you."

"Mason said the interpretation means travellers can be detained without charge, denied the right to consult a lawyer, and even refused necessities such as food and sleep."

continued:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/08/11/arar-lawsuit050811.html

[tanyev]

1. American airline companies are going to be thrilled

when international travelers start planning their trips specifically to avoid the U.S.

[GliderGuider]

14. We already have

A year ago we went to Chile for a vacation. We chose a more expensive direct Toronto-Santiago flight solely because it didn't land on US soil. We will not be setting foot in the US again until there's been some serious regime change. You people scare the spit out of me.

(Well, not "you" people, as in most of you who post here, but you know what I mean.)

[tanyev]

18. I don't blame you a bit.

My husband is Canadian. In fact, he's up there right now on a camping trip with some old friends. He just recently got his green card and I am keeping my fingers crossed that he gets back in without any trouble.

[Zenlitened]

2. Um, wasn't there a time when the US Constitution...

... applied to anyone on US soil?

:shrug:

[Benhurst]

3. Yeah, back in the days of the Republic.

[Bo]

17. Sigh, I miss the Republic

[oscarmitre]

4. I think it still does doesn't it?

I've availed myself of it numerous times. I used to love telling my friends and colleagues back here (Australia) that when I got off the plane at a US airport (with my visa) that I had more rights than back home.

I suppose I can't use that to tweak them any longer.

[TahitiNut]

7. Yes, it once said "people" rather than "Bush Citizen".

The Chimperial Regime has rewritten it. :grr:

[Zenlitened]

9. I have some old maps showing when Bushmerica was called...

... "America." Gosh, that seems like a long time ago! :(

[VegasWolf]

19. Yes, I just saw a new world globe for sale that said Murkkka where

the US used to be.

[democracy eh]

5. blissfully sliding down the slippery, slippery slope

remind me again who "hates our freedom"?

"I am sorry sir, you've missed your connecting flight to Caracas, but the good news is your bags will be checked straight through to Gitmo International Airport"

[Spazito]

6. My, my, this will help the U.S. tourist industry immensely, NOT!

The only thing good about this is that they are finally telling the TRUTH and it is out in Canadian mainstream news now.

[Bragi]

8. Peope are already avoiding the US

I chatted with a fellow Canadian a month or so back who had been at a conference in Iceland, and he told me about his hellish 20 hour return trip home.

I asked him why that was, and he explained that he didn't want to travel en route to meetings through the US any more, so he routed himself from Iceland to Europe, and then back to Canada direct.

The truly surprising thing for me was that this guy is totally causasion, and is a mid-level Government bureaucrat! When these kind of people no longer want to travel through the US, then I'd say you definitely have a looming tourist problem.

- B

[Vogon_Glory]

10. Latin Americans Also Avoiding The US

I'm also hearing reports of Latin Americans choosing to vacation in Canada rather than deal the US visa regulations and restrictions. While I'm sure that the likes of Tom Tancredo and Michelle Malkin will think that this is cause for celebration, I'm not so sure that the US travel industry is likely to be quite so enthusiastic.

[getmeouttahere]

13. It should be obvious by now...

through examples such as strong-arming the passage of CAFTA or attempting to destroy SS, that BushCo doesn't give a damn about the average american. Do you really think they are going to care if international tourism dries up???

[getmeouttahere]

11. Forward this to all your friends in other countries....

maybe when the tourism money really starts drying up, BushCo will start paying attention...if they even care, which I personally don't think they do.

[CHIMO]

12. This Affects

More than tourism. Any airport that is used as a hub for international flights will now be affected. Look for Russia, China and others to push for direct and connecting flights to use other places to interconnect.

[FlemingsGhost]

15. At least they are just passing through ... we live here. (n/t)

Flem.

[wli]

16. People have avoided the US like the plague since the DMCA passed.

This will probably get travel to the US officially barred by numerous countries.

[struggle4progress]

20. kick