Skip to main content

Human Rights Watch Asks US about Use of Secret Surveillance for Drug, Immigration Purposes

Freedom of Information Act Requests Seek Records from 22 Federal Agencies

In January 2017, Human Rights Watch submitted requests to twenty-two United States federal agencies pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act.  The requests seek legal, policy, and other documents addressing any use of two of the country’s main intelligence surveillance laws for counter-drug or immigration purposes, including in a manner that may affect people in the United States and US citizens abroad.  The laws include Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which underpins the PRISM program as well as “upstream” surveillance activities, and Executive Order 12333, which allegedly serves as the basis for large-scale US surveillance programs worldwide.  Both of these laws are described further in Human Rights Watch’s 2014 report With Liberty to Monitor All.

U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 

Central Intelligence Agency 

United States Customs and Border Protection 

Drug Enforcement Administration

U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Office of Intelligence and Analysis 

Defense Intelligence Agency

Department of Justice 

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Internal Revenue Service

U.S. Marshals Service

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

National Reconnaissance Office

National Security Agency/Central Security Service

Office of Naval Intelligence

US Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance

United States Coast Guard

Marine Corps Intelligence Department

United States Secret Service

Department of the Treasury

Your tax deductible gift can help stop human rights violations and save lives around the world.

Region / Country

Most Viewed