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ImmigrationProf Blog
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Tea Party Opposes Patriot Act Extension

By immigrationprof

Lisa Mascaro writes for the LA Times:

The Senate voted overwhelmingly Monday to extend expiring provisions of the Patriot Act for four years despite objections of a coalition of conservatives and liberals.

Because of the Obama administration’s strong support for the anti-terrorism law, a bipartisan majority in both the House and Senate is expected to finish the legislation this week, keeping the provisions in force. They are scheduled to expire Friday.

Tea 
The law has troubled civil libertarians and conservatives since its enactment after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The debate has drawn interest from the “tea party” movement, whose supporters argue that the law gives the government too much authority to spy on terrorism suspects.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) led opposition on the Senate floor Monday, arguing that the provisions allow the government to peer too deeply into Americans’ private lives. He questioned the wisdom of trading privacy for national security. Read more….

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