Obama Gives Immunity to Interpol

In a quiet, sneaky executive order, President Obama signed into place a rule that would grant immunity to Interpol from the oversight of the American legal system. Interpol is the international police force that operates out of 188 different countries around the world. Although it was started in 1923, it wasn’t until 1983 that the United States recognized it. Due to executive order 12425, President Reagan recognized Interpol and provided it with some of the priviliges and immunities that might be extended to a foreign diplomat. However, while Reagan recognized Interpol, they were still subject to the same oversight and any search and seizures required.

The ultimate goal in doing this was that Interpol could come to the United States if need be and operate here with the hopes of solving cases. It was America’s way of recognizing an international organization. However, because they were still considered a law enforcement agency, they had to follow the same rules that any typical agency would follow to ensure that American liberties were not infringed on. It was another example of checks and balances to guarantee tyrannical rule never came about.

For some unexplainable reason, President Obama issued his own executive order that overrode what President Reagan said. Instead of there being oversight, President Obama made it possible for Interpol to operate in the United States free of any oversight and with complete immunity. In other words, Interpol has the ability to do whatever they want in the United States without having to provide any information to Congress if requested. It’s as if President Obama has suddenly allowed a police force that answers to one person: himself.

The disheartening fact about this is that Interpol’s base of operations in the United States is in the Justice Department. So, what President Obama has effectively done is created a place for any paperwork that the government doesn’t want being seen to just get stowed away. Since Interpol’s documents cannot be seized, the information could technically never be revealed to anyone.

It is worrisome when a President suddenly has a police force that answers directly to him. While this is one severe issue, another thing that stands out is how the release received nearly no press coverage. The only coverage that was received was from third party, smaller networks of blogs and sites that keep track of these events. The President that argued for consistent transparency in his campaign is turning into every other President with non-transparency.

Any United States police organization has to answer to the rules put forth by our Constitution. Why would our President give an international agency immunity when American ones aren’t even given immunity? Why would he allow government paperwork to be stashed away from Congress, other police agencies and the American people?

The rationalization put forth by Ron Noble, Interpol’s security General, is that Interpol is, “…no different than any other international organization” and “it’s international custom that international organizations are exempt from FOIA” (reference). His second point makes sense and it is true. An embassy that is in America does not have to follow FOIA. However, the one thing about Interpol is that it is not an embassy. It is not a diplomatic group. It is an international police organization. So yes, it is different than any other international organization.

Because of it being a police agency, it must follow the rules that are put forth by this country. We are a sovereign nation with our own rules and while we provide courtesies to diplomatic groups, when a police agency comes to the United States to do work, they must follow the rules that our constitution spells out. It is incredibly disappointing to see President Obama giving immunities to international police organizations. That is a direct break of his vow to “…the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”