U.S. Considers New Anti-Terrorism Legislation
The U.S. Justice Department, which won broad new powers after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to eavesdrop and detain immigrants, is drafting legislation that would authorize the creation of a terrorist identification database, department officials said on Friday. They said the proposals, which already have been criticized by civil liberties groups, also would limit the disclosure of certain information and allow pretrial detention of people suspected of terrorist activity without bail. The officials said the proposals, still in draft form and called the Security Enhancement Act of 2003, would require congressional approval. They said the proposals remain under active discussion, but final measures were not imminent. Full Story