The Patriot Act is an act of Congress which was swiftly turned into law on October 26, 2001, after the terrorist attacks of September 11th.
The Act granted law enforcement to search any home or business without the owner's consent or knowledge, as well as the authorization to research on the telephone, e-mail and financial records of every citizen. It also authorized indefinite detentions of immigrants under suspicion.
The Act was seen as a necessary measure in order to counter the immediate effects and possible sequels of the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Law enforcement agencies made numerous detentions and were able to effectively neutralize further terrorist actions.
