The ACLU today released a set of “Core Legal Principles” that we believe should govern U.S. border policies – specifically, a “North American Security Perimeter” plan that the United States and Canada are expected to announce this week.

As a border state, Maine has felt the full brunt of tightened border security in the wake of 9/11.  Unfortunately, a new joint agreement may simply add another layer of personal intrusion for those crossing the border.

Jay Staley writes at the ACLU Blog of Rights that civil liberties may take the fall:

"the question is: will the privacy, the constitutional right to travel, and other civil liberties of Americans and Canadians be the victim here?

While many parts of the agreement may be fine, many of the U.S. security policies that the countries may be “harmonizing” are problematic. For example: