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President Bush's administration initiated the Act to justify stiffer actions and penalties on acts of terrorism on American interest at home and abroad. However, there had been outcry from various quarters in respect of the sincerity of intention as a result of events unfolding that are considered inappropriate, and in violation of people's rights to privacy. Having removed checks on government's power, the Patriot Act unilaterally gives government the monopoly of wisdom through Section 218 which "amends the Surveillance Act, authorizing secret searches without public knowledge or Department of Justice accountability, so long as the government can allege a foreign intelligence basis for the search." Even after passing the Patriot Act, the Department of Justice reportedly spent several months in drafting a legislation that will enable the government to eliminate or weaken the checks and balances on wiretapping, detention and criminal prosecution. According to Sections 101, 102 and 107 of the draft, it is "easier for the government to initiate surveillance and wiretapping of U

>S. citizens under the authority of the shadowy, top-secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court." Also, the draft ensures that, nationwide search warrants are expanded so that, "they do not have to meet even the broad definition of terrorist in the USA Patriot Act. (Section 126)."

Government's secrecy becomes increasingly a matter of grave concern for the citizens as defense attorneys are not allowed to challenge the use of secret evidence in criminal cases (according to the civil liberties body). Businesses that provide information about clients on terrorism investigation enjoy immunity granted by the government, whereas this amounts to violation of rights and privacy. Advocates of immigration leniency are particularly worried about the Patriot Act. In their opinion, the legislation is potentially capable of targeting immigrants under the guise of fighting terrorism. Basically, legal residents have the risk of being deported without evidence of criminal intent if the Attorney General feels they are threat to national security. (Section 503). Federal agents are shielded from criminal prosecution, even if their actions are illegal and without court authorization, as long as they are acting on the orders from the Executive Branch officials.

Opposing voices from various quarters are unrelenting in their criticisms of this piece of legislation. An anonymous letter published by the Washington

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