# "Constitution-free zone" within 100 miles of the border? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 16, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-free-zone-within-100-miles-of-the-border/553938 "2010-09-16T04:01:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-free-zone-within-100-miles-of-the-border/553938/21 "2010-09-18T18:17:58Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I agree. I hate all arguments based on hypotheticals and “slippery-slopes”. Instead, talk about what is actually happening right now, or what is actually proposed. Is it right or not? In this case, the border patrol stations that are already situated inland in California, Texas, etc., and that might pop up in New York, from my understanding. If you understand our legal system then you are aware that everything is precedent for the next thing. Read a few briefs by solicitors general of purportedly liberal and conservative administrations. The Justice Department takes note, keeps track, and Uses every little incident to argue for more authority, and generally speaking the courts go along. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-free-zone-within-100-miles-of-the-border/553938/22 "2010-09-18T19:30:00Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > > [@suranyi](#): > > > > I agree. I hate all arguments based on hypotheticals and “slippery-slopes”. Instead, talk about what is actually happening right now, or what is actually proposed. Is it right or not? In this case, the border patrol stations that are already situated inland in California, Texas, etc., and that might pop up in New York, from my understanding. > > If you understand our legal system then you are aware that everything is precedent for the next thing. Read a few briefs by solicitors general of purportedly liberal and conservative administrations. The Justice Department takes note, keeps track, and > Uses every little incident to argue for more authority, and generally speaking the courts go along. If that’s how you feel then you have to be in a constant state of anxiety – “Oh no, what might they do NEXT?” I prefer to be in a constant state of peace – “They didn’t do what I feared this time.” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-free-zone-within-100-miles-of-the-border/553938/23 "2010-09-18T20:41:47Z")
Well the whole mission of the ACLU is to establish precedents that they believe will produce outcomes they agree with in the future. It seems a little weird to criticize them for trying to anticipate the possible consequences of current policies. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-free-zone-within-100-miles-of-the-border/553938/24 "2010-09-19T00:19:50Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Well the whole mission of the ACLU is to establish precedents that they believe will produce outcomes they agree with in the future. It seems a little weird to criticize them for trying to anticipate the possible consequences of current policies. I guess. I mean, I have nothing against the ACLU – they’re a great organization. It’s just that if you’re always worried about what the government MIGHT do – well there’s an infinite number of things they might do. So just to keep your sanity you have to narrow it down in some way. So you may as well narrow it down to those things that at least they’ve said they’re thinking about doing, or that they actually are doing. But at this point I’ve probably strayed way out of the GQ area. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-free-zone-within-100-miles-of-the-border/553938/25 "2010-09-19T01:09:08Z")
Well don’t go to work for the ACLU if it would interfere with your peace of mind to that extent. Our constitutional system depends on suspicion, mistrust, and contention. Give that up and we’ve given up liberal democracy. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-free-zone-within-100-miles-of-the-border/553938/26 "2010-09-19T02:25:27Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Well don’t go to work for the ACLU if it would interfere with your peace of mind to that extent. Our constitutional system depends on suspicion, mistrust, and contention. Give that up and we’ve given up liberal democracy. I admit I’m a very trusting person. I wouldn’t be a very good investigator – either on the government’s side or the anti-government’s side. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-free-zone-within-100-miles-of-the-border/553938.md?page=1)