Government2

U.S. Senate Should Vote "NO" on Sen. Graham’s Unconstitutional Citizenship-Stripping NDAA Amendment (SA 1047)

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/14/17) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on voters to contact members of the U.S. Senate to oppose Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) proposed amendment to a defense spending bill that would authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to strip the citizenship and legal permanent resident (LPR) status of individuals accused of providing material support to or engaging in acts of terrorism on behalf of a foreign terrorist organization or state.

Sen. Lindsey Graham’s Senate Amendment 1047 to Senate Amendment 1003 to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018 (H.R. 2810) was submitted yesterday and may possibly receive a vote on the Senate floor as early as today.

SEE: PDF Copy of Sen. Graham’s Citizenship-Stripping Amendment (SA 1047)
http://www.cair.com/images/Graham_side-by-side_Amdt_1047_to_Lee_Detention_Amdt_1.pdf

This unconstitutional amendment would violate the Fifth Amendment by authorizing DHS to take away the citizenship rights of Americans and LPRs -- based on accusations alone -- without due process, a court conviction, and most importantly, absent a formal declaration giving up one’s citizenship. Without a formal declaration that one is giving up his or her U.S. citizenship, it cannot be taken away.

“Citizenship is a right, not a privilege to be taken away without due process and based on unproven accusations,” said CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw. “The courts can convict those who have violated the law -- but no bureaucrat may take away an American’s citizenship without their consent or adequate due process.”

Sen. Graham’s citizenship-stripping amendment is similar to another controversial bill offered by Senator Ted Cruz last year.

SEE: Cruz Bill Eases Revocations of U.S. Citizenship Without Due Process
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-bier/ted-cruz-expatriate-terrorist-act_b_9029984.html

ACT NOW – EMAIL YOUR SENATORS TODAY

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

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CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com

U.S. Senate Should Vote "NO" on Sen. Graham’s Unconstitutional Citizenship-Stripping NDAA Amendment (SA 1047)

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/14/17) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on voters to contact members of the U.S. Senate to oppose Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) proposed amendment to a defense spending bill that would authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to strip the citizenship and legal permanent resident (LPR) status of individuals accused of providing material support to or engaging in acts of terrorism on behalf of a foreign terrorist organization or state.

Sen. Lindsey Graham’s Senate Amendment 1047 to Senate Amendment 1003 to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018 (H.R. 2810) was submitted yesterday and may possibly receive a vote on the Senate floor as early as today.

SEE: PDF Copy of Sen. Graham’s Citizenship-Stripping Amendment (SA 1047)
http://www.cair.com/images/Graham_side-by-side_Amdt_1047_to_Lee_Detention_Amdt_1.pdf

This unconstitutional amendment would violate the Fifth Amendment by authorizing DHS to take away the citizenship rights of Americans and LPRs -- based on accusations alone -- without due process, a court conviction, and most importantly, absent a formal declaration giving up one’s citizenship. Without a formal declaration that one is giving up his or her U.S. citizenship, it cannot be taken away.

“Citizenship is a right, not a privilege to be taken away without due process and based on unproven accusations,” said CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw. “The courts can convict those who have violated the law -- but no bureaucrat may take away an American’s citizenship without their consent or adequate due process.”

Sen. Graham’s citizenship-stripping amendment is similar to another controversial bill offered by Senator Ted Cruz last year.

SEE: Cruz Bill Eases Revocations of U.S. Citizenship Without Due Process
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-bier/ted-cruz-expatriate-terrorist-act_b_9029984.html

ACT NOW – EMAIL YOUR SENATORS TODAY

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

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CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com