Representative Juan Vargas (D‑CA) pointed out a harsh reality during a congressional hearing: Republicans have a surveillance problem.
“I hear wonderful things [from Republicans defending privacy], and I actually agree the Fourth Amendment should protect us,” said Representative Vargas. “[But then] we have the acting director of ICE come and say the opposite.”
Referring to how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons said officers could enter homes without a warrant signed by a judge, Representative Vargas pointed out that you “don’t hear a peep” from most Republicans when it comes to this surveillance.
Yet, it doesn’t end there. The Trump administration also lowered financial surveillance thresholds from $10,000 to $200 at the border, expanded the surveillance area to affect 3.2 million people, and called for the expansion of the Bank Secrecy Act across the country.
How anyone can be a defender of the Constitution and silent on these issues is a mystery.
Perhaps it’s because of the political power Trump holds over the party. The recent primary defeat of Representative Thomas Massie (R‑KY) certainly sent shockwaves through conservatives. Or perhaps it’s because immigration policy has become so heated that it has blinded otherwise vigilant defenders of liberty.
Whatever the motive, Republicans should heed Representative Vargas’s warning for at least two reasons. First, the powers the Trump administration has invoked could as easily be used by another president for vastly different purposes. Second, and relatedly, history has shown that tools used on enemies abroad can be quickly turned on Americans. We can already see this second problem taking place at the border. Reports are not filed under the geographic targeting order solely because a customer isn’t a citizen. Rather, they are filed against everyone.
Republicans should heed Representative Vargas’s warning and take a stand against expanding surveillance. Blocking the recent executive order and restricting the use of geographic targeting orders would be a good place to start.