A spokesman for the Customs and Border Protection division said he couldn’t speak directly to Goodman’s case but acknowledged that the agency can, will and does open mail coming to U.S. citizens that originates from a foreign country whenever it’s deemed necessary.

“All mail originating outside the United States Customs territory that is to be delivered inside the U.S. Customs territory is subject to Customs examination,” says the CBP Web site.  That includes personal correspondence.  “All mail means ‘all mail,’” said John Mohan, a CBP spokesman, emphasizing the point.

“This process isn’t something we’re trying to hide,” Mohan said, noting the wording on the agency’s Web site.  “We’ve had this authority since before the Department of Homeland Security was created,” Mohan said.  

However, Mohan declined to outline what criteria are used to determine when a piece of personal correspondence should be opened, but said, “obviously it’s a security-related criteria.”

Mohan also declined to say how often or in what volume CBP might be opening mail.  “All I can really say is that Customs and Border Protection does undertake [opening mail] when it is determined to be necessary,” he said.


more here

Quoted: Outstanding.BUMMER... THE PRESS ARE TRYING TO NEUTER  Another tool to help catch terrorists.

fixed it fer ya

Quoted: Quoted: Outstanding.BUMMER... THE PRESS ARE TRYING TO NEUTER  Another tool to help catch terrorists. fixed it fer ya

yep, revealing this new method means that the terrorists are going to have people hand deliver mail instead of going through the mail system.

Meh... rereading the article, it was the CUSTOMS office doing the snooping.

I'd say the dear old prof has been importing some mary jane and the dogs alerted to his letter.