Bill Lee: “I rise today to discuss and urge my colleagues to support amendment No. 4448, the due process guarantee amendment. This…”

“I rise today to discuss and urge my colleagues to support amendment No. 4448, the due process guarantee amendment. This amendment addresses a little known problem that I believe most Americans would be shocked to discover even exists. Under current law, the Federal Government has proclaimed the power--has arrogated to itself the power to detain indefinitely, without charge or trial, U.S. citizens and lawful, permanent residents who are apprehended on American soil. Let that sink in for just a minute. If you are a U.S. citizen or a U.S. green card holder and you are arrested on American soil because you are suspected of supporting a terrorist group or other enemy of the United States, the Federal Government has claimed the power to detain you indefinitely without formally charging you or without offering you a trial. I am not talking about American citizens who travel to foreign lands to take up arms against the United States military and are captured on the battlefield. I am talking about U.S. citizens who are apprehended right here in the United States of America. Under current law, even they can be imprisoned for an unspecified--in fact, unlimited--period of time without ever being charged and without the benefit of a jury trial to which they are entitled. You don't need to be a defense attorney to recognize what an outrage this is. Arresting U.S.…”