Liberty Minute December 24 2013

Three Philadelphia cab drivers were among those lured to the office of that city?s Parking Authority by officials of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency with the false promise of a refund. When the drivers arrived, each of them was assaulted and handcuffed by agents and interrogated for an hour regarding alleged immigration violations.

Each was able to prove he is a U.S. citizen ? but they were held at gunpoint for several hours and forbidden to stand, speak, or use the bathroom. They were told that although they were entirely innocent they would be held until the investigation was over so that they couldn?t alert other cab drivers about the sting operation.

When the cab drivers filed a civil complaint, the agents responsible for this crime filed a motion to dismiss the suit, claiming ? among other things ? that all federal officials have the right to detain and interrogate, without a warrant, ?any alien or person believed to be an alien?.?

Last year a federal judge dismissed the case, invoking the spurious doctrine of qualified immunity. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has granted the victims another chance to pursue their claim.

In post-Constitutional America, all of us are treated as aliens by those who presume to rule us.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.