The bill would, among other things, authorize the State Department to revoke the passports and prevent the return of Americans who join or support such groups while overseas. It would also allow citizenship to be stripped from Americans who support groups that target U.S. allies, such as Israel or India, pending a court appeal.
In one story I read it talked about being associated with “suspected” terrorist organizations. This would also include being associated with say some charities that have come under scrutiny as possibly funneling money to terrorist organizations. Now isn’t it just possible someone might give money to an organization with all good intentions and not be aware of the possible connection to terrorist organizations. This could put many many people at risk of loosing their citizenship.
More from the Post article:
“If they’re a U.S. citizen, until they’re convicted of some crime, I don’t know how you would attempt to take their citizenship away,” House Republican Leader John A. Boehner (Ohio) told reporters Thursday, according to Bloomberg News. “It would be pretty difficult under the U.S. Constitution.”
USA Today chimes in:
Allowing the government to decide that certain citizens aren’t entitled to constitutional protections would set a terrible precedent. Imagine, for example, what might have happened to Steven Hatfill, the Army scientist falsely suspected in the 2001 anthrax attacks.
As far as I’m concerned, this is pandering plan and simple. It’s a way for a politician to say “oh see I’m serious on fighting terrorism.” The bottom line this is no way shape or form makes us any safer. It just looks good in print and on TV.
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