In the relentless pursuit of illegal immigrants, the Trump administration is reportedly employing every tool at its disposal, including the United States Postal Service (USPS).
The USPS's Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is said to be playing a pivotal role in the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) task force, which is tasked with identifying, detaining, and deporting illegal immigrants.
According to a report by the Washington Post, the USPIS is now a significant player in the DHS's task force, a move that aligns with the Trump administration's stringent immigration policies. The USPS, with its extensive public contact, is uniquely positioned to assist in these efforts.
The USPIS, while limited in its surveillance capabilities, is reportedly aiding the administration's deportation drive through its "mail covers" program. This initiative grants postal investigators the authority to photograph the exterior of letters and packages in transit. Furthermore, the USPIS can share information collected from online accounts, mail-tracking systems, credit card transactions, and IP addresses with DHS officials.
This is not the first instance of the USPIS collaborating with the federal government in law enforcement efforts. As reported by RedState last summer, the USPIS has previously used its "mail covers" program to support the National Security Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the Central Intelligence Agency in investigating certain crimes. This revelation sparked concern among several U.S. Senators, who penned a letter to Chief Postal Inspector Gary R. Barksdale, shedding light on the elusive "mail covers" program:
"Under one type of mail surveillance, known as 'mail covers,' requesting agencies are provided with sender and recipient information for letters and parcels sent to or from a particular target that are delivered by USPS. USPIS coordinates these requests from law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and delivers the list of targets to USPS, which then conducts the surveillance."
In response, Barksdale denied that the USPIS was a large-scale surveillance apparatus, asserting that the agency focused solely on mail that could aid in locating criminals and identifying potential threats to national security. He emphasized that this practice has been in operation since 1879, stating, There is no reasonable expectation of privacy with respect to information contained on the outside of mail matter.
The USPS's cooperation with the Trump administration could be seen as a strategic move to ward off any potential plans the administration may have to assume control of the agency. President Trump has previously suggested merging the postal service with the Department of Commerce. This may explain why the USPIS reportedly informed its employees of its cooperation with deportation efforts, stating, We want to play well in the sandbox."
The USPIS and its "mail covers" program are likely to face increased scrutiny now that they are being used by the Trump administration to track down and deport illegal immigrants. It remains to be seen whether those who previously expressed skepticism about the program's use in surveilling American citizens will maintain their reservations now that it is targeting illegal immigrants. This development is a stark reminder of the ongoing debate over the prioritization of the "rights" of illegal immigrants over the safety and well-being of American citizens.
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