Are You on Department of Homeland Security Watchlist?

See UPDATE at the end.

If you are reading this post chances are you are on the Department of Homeland Security watch list as a right wing extremist. But I am not an extremist you say. Of course you are not. You know that. I know that. Anyone with any sense knows that. But today our government has little sense. They are targeting people like you and me because we have a propensity to terrorism…or so they say. Actually we just disagree with them.

What makes us targets? Basically it is things that make us solid citizens. If you are pro-family, ex-military, conservative politically, pro-life, hunter, Christian, or any traditional badge of stability you have a propensity toward being a militia member on the verge of overthrowing your government in a bloody coup. In the eyes of a new DHS report you are a Timothy McVeigh in the making and need to be spied on.

So you meet the general requirements of being on the watchlist, but how do you find out if you specifically are on the watchlist? This can be done through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

FOIA Request for DHS Watchlist

Your FOIA request can be emailed or sent here:
Under Secretary for National Protection and Programs
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528
FOIA Requester Service Center Contact: Gayle Worthy
Phone: 202-282-9021
Fax: 202-447-3250
E-mail: [email protected]

Sample FOIA Request

Dear FBI:

On April 7, 2009 DHS issued an Intelligence and Analysis Assessment on Rightwing Extremism. This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act for all names that are on any watchlist or similar type of document maintained by, possessed by or known by DHS or the FBI that lists anyone in the categories identified as rightwing extremists in the aforementioned report.

If there is an exemption that would keep you from providing the full list to me, I request that you identify that exemption and at the same time provide the same information specific to me. My name is Lisa Krempasky.

I appreciate your timely compliance with my request. Should you need any additional information to complete this request please contact me at the email address on this request or at Lisa Krempasky, PO Box 21718, St. Louis, MO 63109.

This shall also act as my authorization to spend up to $20 in compliance with this request. If the fees are in excess of that amount please contact me for authorization.

Very Truly Yours,

Lisa Krempasky

5/5/09 UPDATE Got my FOIA response back from DHS. It says basically it is not their responsibility and I should contact the FBI. I’ve modified the letter above to comply with the DHS response.

Letter to the FBI can be either emailed to [email protected]
or sent to:

FBI Freedom of Information Act Office
Records Information Dissemination Section
FBI
170 Marcel Dr.
Winchester, VA 22602-4843
Fax (540) 868-4995

You can request your full FBI file in the letter since you are writing them…but know that you might have to also write local FBIs of where you have lived to get the complete file.

How To File a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request

Freedom of Information requests have been used for years to gather information and to help hold our government responsible. Journalists routinely gather information this way. But as an everyday citizen you have every right to hold your government responsible also.

What is a FOIA Request?

As an American citizen our government works for you. Because of that, the untold billions of dollars that are spent in collecting, keeping, sorting and learning from data is available to you for the asking. Almost anything you can think of is available from the government from a copy of Elvis’s FBI file to the the number of ducks migrating from point A to point B. By law the government is required to determine whether they have information meeting your request and to provide it to you if they do.

This is especially useful if you are working on a cause. Say for instance you are working to get pornography out of your local library, but keep running into objections from your local librarian. You can write to the government to get information to arm you in your quest. Things you can find out include the application process for federal funding for internet filters, statistical trends of how many libraries have made themselves internet safe, and informational brochures directed to librarians on the legalities internet filtering.

The point is, if you can think of a fact or statistic or a piece of information that you need the federal government is a good place to start.

How to File A FCC Freedom of Information Act (FOIA):

1. You can file it online here
2. Here’s the FCC’s basic FOIA fact sheet
3. Here’s the FCC’s detailed FOIA reference manual

How to file a FOIA request in general:
The place to start with any agency is by googling the agency name plus “FOIA”. Most agencies have online information and/or liasion offices to help with the process. Many agencies post their specific fax, mail address or email for submitting a request.

FOIA Very Generally:

1. You can request anything, but many things are exempt…most commonly things regarding national security and private information about citizens. Even if you think your item might be exempt request it anyway. If you want it bad enough look for other ways to word the request and keep requesting.

2. Most agencies have preference processing for the press…some even explain the process on their website. Be creative and figure out how you are part of the press. For instance some bloggers are part of the press.

3. Be polite. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

4. Here’s a pretty good free ebook with tips and tricks of FOIA

5. Anyone can do this. You can do this. Go out and get the info you want about your government and share it with us and everyone else. You personally can make a difference! Hold their feet to the fire. If there is something that does not make sense ask for the documents to back it up. Hold your government responsible.