Last Friday I took a Greyhound bus to Cleveland, Ohio. This bus also stopped in Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo, NY. When we stopped in Rochester a man whose uniform and truck said USBP -- U.S. Border Patrol I take it, walked onto the bus and began asking people, including me, what country we were from (I'm a half-Japanese half-white U.S. citizen). He flashed his badge and identified himself as "Homeland Security."

The people who were from other countries he asked for their status and I.D. In this case, the I.D. and status of everyone he questioned on the bus seemed to be in order and no one was taken off the bus, and we went on our way.

1. What other reports have there been of this kind of sweep?

2. Have there been reports of people being arrested off the bus in this kind of sweep?

3. What are the legal issues relevant to this tactic?

In "know your rights" literature I've read that if you're questioned about your status you have the right to refuse to answer without a lawyer present. I would like to know exactly what laws to cite and how best to handle the situation, both for myself as a citizen and for someone who doesn't have citizenship status. I'm personally outraged by this and I would be willing to take the bus just to be there when this happens again, so I could stand up and inform everyone on the bus that they have the right not to answer this man. I'd be willing to risk arrest for this, but I would like to know exactly what the law is so that I can stay in the legal "right" while still challenging this outrageous violation of civil rights.

If we can gather more info on when and where this is being done, another worthwhile thing would be to tell people waiting for buses and distribute "know your rights" pamphlets at the Port Authority and other bus terminals.

Anyone with info or thoughts, please post and/or email me.

solidarity,

Konrad Aderer email: aderkon*at*lifeorliberty.org