Letter to President Obama

Dear President Obama,

I live in a small town near the Mexican border in southern Arizona. I am a 52-year-old grandmother with not so much as a speeding ticket on my record. Yesterday, May 13,, 2010, I was on my way to a doctor’s appointment when 1 was pulled over by the border patrol at their checkpoint, which is 32 miles north of the border. Their reason was that I was emitting radiation from my body. I explained to them that I have had a recent heart attack and that I had had a nuclear heart stress test within the last week. Apparently this was not good enough for them, (officers Delgado and Gifford) and they made me stand in the hot sun while they waited for someone to come and run a more sophisticated machine on me. When I was asked for proof of this nuclear test, I showed them the bruises on my arm from the IVs. Again, this was not good enough for them, they asked for paperwork of this test which would prove that I was not a lying terrorist. Of course I did not have this paperwork with me. They did eventually allow me to sit down in the shade while they tried to figure out what to do with me. After filling out two pages of paperwork they allowed me to go on my way. I did make note of how long they detained me, it was from 9:15 am to 10:08 a.m. I was worried that I would miss my doctor’s appointment which was another 60 miles ahead of me.

Mr. President, could you explain to me, as an American citizen, what constitutional rights I still have left? I have lived in this small community for over 15 years and have watched as many good people in this town are unduly stripped and harassed, are physically thrown out of their vehicles, forced down on the ground at gun point and numerous other violations of their rights. We are no longer able to go about our business and lives without the constant threat of being treated as terrorists. This is wrong on so many levels. This is no longer the country I was born and raised in. The Constitution in which my forefathers fought so hard for has become nothing but a joke and no longer worth the paper it was written on.

I understand the difficulties in protecting our borders from terrorists, drug and people smugglers and the like, but why is this not being done at the border? Why are there so many untrained people with guns being allowed to run amok in American communities with the belief that they are above the law? I do not normally speak out, but 1 am speaking now, (I believe I still have that right). It seems to me that the biggest acts of terrorism are coming from our own politicians and law makers. It has now become the normal practice of violating the rights of American citizens without the worry of any repercussions. I believe it has become a very sad time to be an American citizen. As someone who voted for you, believed in you and your promise of change, I want t6 know how you are going to address this. I do not want my grandchildren to grow up believing that they have no rights, no freedoms and to be subjected to the very lawlessness that comes from their own government. Thank you for hearing my voice.

Sincerely,

Nancy Tucker

Arivaca, AZ