WASHINGTON – Conservative Republicans have a three-word response to government demands to spy on Americans’ telecommunications: “Get a warrant.”
When it comes to the same government breaking into people’s homes in search of deportation targets, they have a three-word welcome: “Come on in!”
Conservatives, led by members of the House Freedom Caucus, are putting up a big fight against warrantless surveillance on Americans’ communications with foreigners. Simultaneously, they are pushing for more funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has repeatedly barged into homes without a judicial warrant during President Donald Trump’s administration.
The apparent inconsistency appears on both sides of the aisle, with some Democrats showing openness to warrantless surveillance after backing the party’s demand for ICE warrants.
“A lot of people are being hypocritical around here,” Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) told HuffPost. Fitzpatrick is a moderate who opposes adding judicial warrant requirements and has pushed for bipartisan compromises in both debates.
