Armed TSA 'VIPR' Agents now roam in public, conduct suspicionless searches on demand

Armed federal enforcers now actively roam in public, conducting suspicionless searches on anyone they want. The TSA deploys Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams to set up unannounced checkpoints used to “Dominate, Intimidate, & Control” the terrorists. The purpose of VIPR teams is to walk up to a person in a public area and force them to submit to a search, including opening up bags and performing patdowns.

TSA records show that the teams ran more than 8,800 unannounced checkpoints outside of airports last year alone. These included searches at train stations, bust stations, the Indianapolis 500, the Democratic and Republican national political conventions, political speeches, and sports stadiums, more. VIPR now has a $100 million annual budget and is growing rapidly, increasing to several hundred people and 37 teams last year, up from 10 teams in 2008.

“It was an incredible waste of taxpayers’ money,” said attorney Robert Fickman. “Did we need to have T.S.A. in here for a couple of minor busts?”

“The problem with TSA stopping and searching people in public places outside the airport is that there are no real legal standards, or probable cause,” said Khaliah Barnes, law counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). “It’s something that is easily abused because the reason that they are conducting the stops is shrouded in secrecy.”

To justify their unconstitutional infringements, they claim the checkpoints are “administrative searches” that are exempt from probable cause therefore conveniently impervious to constitutional scrutiny.

TSA now has grown to a whopping 56,000 agents, violating rights at 450 American airports. Its complete disregard for individual liberties and the constitution illustrates the uncomfortable fact that the United States is becoming a police state.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/06/us/tsa-expands-duties-beyond-airport-security.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1

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http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/apr/18/tsa-mission-creep-us-police-state