The Rev Dr. Rick SchlosserDear Friends,
Yesterday, the House Committee on Judiciary voted to permit the administration to deport United States Citizens! Under no existing law may that ever be done, and yet, the whole House is preparing to erode this central right under every existing law.
As we have mentioned, the courts today are very much focused on upholding the letter of the law, the actual texts of statutes and the Constitution. This vote yesterday was not a stand-alone bill but the veto of an amendment to the budget bill to prevent ICE from deporting American citizens.
Technically, existing statutes and the Constitution still protect US citizens, natural born or naturalized, but these are very dangerous waters we are wading. The majority apparently did not wish to give textual support to the issues of due process and affirmation of US citizenship. That is both treacherous and cowardly.
Photo courtesy of the International Rescue Committee
The Supreme Court has affirmed the absolute right to due process, and yet US citizens have been deported within these last three months. That includes children. For this key committee to refuse to uphold and affirm the existing law is frightening in its import.
We urge you to call your Representative, regardless of party, to tell them clearly that we uphold the absolute rights of citizenship and due process. Three CA members of the committee voted against affirming these rights. Darrell Issa (CA -48), Tom McClintock (CA-05), and Kevin Kiley (CA -03). In addition to them, it’s important for ALL of California’s House delegation to know we will not support the erosion of these fundamental rights of citizenship for anyone, natural born or naturalized.
Please contact your House of Representative Member by going here: Find Your Representative | house.gov
Please start calling today before the budget bill reaches the floor. Ask your Representative to put this amendment back into the bill or at least, the very least, affirm to you that citizenship rights as now exist are sacred. We have honored citizenship for the entirety of our nation’s existence. Now is not the time to change that.
Thank you!