Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) recently filed legislation intended to place potential terrorist or terrorist sympathizers, who are not citizens or permanent residents, eligible for immediate and mandatory removal proceedings.
The Terrorist Deportation Act would make those listed on the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) inadmissible into the United States, along with making those already in the country immediately eligible for deportation. The bill also creates due process proceedings for those on the TSDB who may have been placed there in error.
The database contains approximately one million names, five percent of which are either permanent residents or U.S. citizens.
“It is important to note that this legislation will provide a legal avenue for those mistakenly in the terrorist database and the related no-fly list,” Duncan said. “While we are making America safer for our citizens, we must also do everything we can to protect the rights of American citizens who are mistakenly caught up in terror investigations. My legislation seeks to achieve that balance point.”
The bill has nine co-sponsors, including Reps. Lou Barletta (R-PA), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Steve King (R-IA), Tom McClintock (R-CS), Brian Babin (R-AZ), Dave Brat (R-VA), and Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO).