I know our schools aren’t what they could be, but god’s teeth, can’t anybody freaking READ anymore. The Enemy Expatriation Act, proposes to strip “citizenship rights” from suspected terrorists and those who fart during the playing of the national anthem, thus making it okey-dokey to deprive such villains of due process – charges, trial by jury, defense counsel, etc, etc.
The thing of it is, that’s a complete legal fiction.
Or, as my dad would say, it’s pure bullshit.
Civil liberties are NOT the exclusive birthright of citizens.
For those of you who haven’t read the Constitution lately – or, if you’re a member of Congress, ever – here’s a convenient copy of the Bill of Rights.
I’ve added some emphasis to elucidate the point.
Nota bene that in the Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments to the Constitution) the word “citizen” does not appear. Enumerated rights belong to “the people” or to a “person,” but nowhere does it suggest these rights belong to citizens and citizens alone.
It’s not as if the framers used the word “person” when they meant “citizen.”
Article II Sect 1 says: No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
When they meant “citizen,” they said “citizen.”
The 11th Amendment uses the term “citizen”
So does the 14th Amendment, which defines who is a “citizen.” It also confirms that civil liberties belong to all “persons,” not just to “citizens.”
You have to get to the 15th Amendment before you come to any “right” that is reserved to “citizens” alone: the right to vote.
So here’s the scam: divide and conquer.
First convince you that only “citizens” have Constitutional rights. Then, take away your citizenship and --presto! – there go your “rights.”
The thing is, THERE IS NO PROVISION IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT GRANTS TO CONGRESS OR TO ANYONE ELSE THE POWER TO STRIP YOU OF YOUR CITIZENSHIP.
And even if it did, the only right reserved to citizens is the right to vote.
All other rights belong to every “person” living in the United States, whether citizen or not.
sj
“The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage.” -Thucydides
The BILL OF RIGHTS and Other Delights
1. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
2. A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
3. No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
4. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
5. No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.
6. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
7. In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
8. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
9. The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
10. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
11. The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.
14. Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
15. Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
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