Loading ...FBI Conducting Legitimate Criminal Investigations, Not Mass Surveillance
Yesterday, Arab-American Civil Rights League (“ACRL”) Chairman Nabih H. Ayad met with Mr. Paul Abbate, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office, and other community leaders and elected officials to discuss the community’s concerns over reports of FBI aerial surveillance being conducted over Dearborn. After a productive discussion with Mr. Abbate, Chairman Ayad is satisfied that the flights were related to specific and particularized criminal investigations, and not attempts at illicit mass surveillance of the Arab-American community.
“Based on our discussion yesterday, I have no reason to believe that the aerial surveillance being conducted over Dearborn is anything other than a legitimate criminal investigation being conducted by the FBI,” stated Chairman Nabih H. Ayad after the meeting concluded yesterday. “These investigations are particularized in nature, and are not mass-surveillance. While these flights may understandably and perhaps even rightfully make us uneasy, the FBI has shown accountability and leadership by working with the community to address our concerns.”
Given the disclosures made by the FBI, the ACRL does not have reason to believe that the surveillance efforts are illegal or unreasonably broad in scope. Accordingly, and in the absence of such evidence, the ACRL believes that the community is safe and that the FBI’s legitimate attempts to thwart criminal activity are not cause for concern. For questions or comments, please contact ACRL Chairman Nabih H. Ayad at (734) 749-4029 or nayad@ayadlaw.com.
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2015/08/05/fbi-plane-circles-dearborn/31160047/