#fourthamendment

This is Fred Biery, a United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas.

He is the judge who ordered the release of Liam Ramos and his father and he wrote a scathing opinion targeting the Trump Administration. Here are some excepts:

"The case has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children."

"Apparent also is the government's ignorance of an American historical document called the Declaration of Independence. Thirty-three-year-old Thomas Jefferson enumerated grievances against a would-be authoritarian king over our nascent nation. Among others were:

1. "He has sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People."

2. "He has excited domestic Insurrection among us.”

3. "For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us."

4. "He has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies without the consent of our Legislatures."

"We the people" are hearing echos of that history."

"And then there is that pesky inconvenience called the Fourth Amendment:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue,but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and persons or things to be seized."

"Civics lesson to the government: Administrative warrants issued by the executive branch to itself do not pass probable cause muster. That is called the fox guarding the hen house. The Constitution requires an independent judicial officer."

"Observing human behavior confirms that for some among us, the perfidious lust for unbridled power and the imposition of cruelty in its quest know no bounds and are bereft of human decency. And the rule of law be damned."

"Philadelphia, September 17, 1787: "Well, Dr. Franklin, what do we have?" "A republic, if you can keep it."

"With a judicial finger in the constitutional dike,It is so ORDERED."

Thank you Judge Biery!

Edward Joseph Snowden is an American-Russian former NSA intelligence contractor and whistleblower who leaked classified documents revealing the existence of global surveillance programs.

Whistleblower on Mass Surveillance – Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor, leaked classified information in 2013, exposing global surveillance programs operated by the U.S. government in collaboration with international allies.

Former Intelligence Operative – Before becoming a whistleblower, Snowden worked for the CIA and later as a contractor for the NSA, where he gained access to classified materials.

Asylum in Russia – After leaking the documents, Snowden fled to Hong Kong and later sought asylum in Russia, where he has lived since 2013. He was granted permanent residency and eventually Russian citizenship in 2022.

Public Debate on Privacy and Security – Snowden’s revelations sparked widespread debate on government surveillance, privacy rights, and national security, leading to some reforms in intelligence practices, particularly the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015.

NEW: An NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt investigation:

"The Fourth Amendment, even for US citizens, doesn't apply at the border," a former DHS official says.

DHS data show searches of cellphones have exploded, growing 5x in 1 year:

-2015: Less than 5,000 -2016: Nearly 25,000 nbcnews.to/2ngJUX3

Most of the cases we found from across the US -- 23 of 25 -- involve Muslims. nbcnews.to/2ngJUX3

Understanding what happens when police enter your home without a warrant is essential for protecting your privacy, your property, and your constitutional rights. Your home is one of the most protected spaces under the law, and law enforcement generally must follow specific legal rules before crossing that boundary.

Smartphones contain some of the most personal details of our lives, from private messages and photos to financial records, emails, browsing history, and location data. Because of the vast amount of sensitive information stored on mobile devices, many people wonder whether law enforcement officers can legally search a phone without the owner’s permission. Understanding your constitutional rights is essential, especially during police encounters, traffic stops, investigations, or arrests.