Alice Fisher

About the author: Alice Fisher is a deputy attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice.

The USA PATRIOT Act, enacted on October 26, 2001, in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America, has been an invaluable aid to law enforcement. The act has removed important obstacles to investigating terrorism. For example, section 219 of the act allows federal judges to issue nationwide search warrants in terrorism investigations, whereas prior to the act investigators had to expend crucial time and effort procuring multiple warrants from different judges in different jurisdictions. The act has also greatly strengthened criminal laws against terrorism, particularly laws aimed at the individuals who finance and support terrorist groups. Finally, the act has removed many restrictions on law enforcement's ability to gather intelligence through physical searches, wiretaps, electronic...