Speech #960289008

This bill. S. 2437. is not a complex instrument. It provides for a straightforward amendment of a section in the United States Code. dating back to 1798. that deals with war and national defense and addresses the question of "alien enemies." That section reads: Whenever there is a declared war between the United States or any invasion or predatory incursion is perpetrated. attempted or threatened against the territory of the United States by any foreign nation or government. and the President makes public proclamation. of the event. all natives. citizens. denizens. or subjects of the hostile nation or government. being of the age of fourteen and upward. who shall be within the United States and not actually naturalized. shall be liable to be apprehended. restrained. secured. and removed as alien enemies. That is the section of the Code as of The law says that such "enemy aliens" may be detained and eventually depotted. This law spells out very clearly that aliens. and not naturalized U.S. citizens. may be subject to its provisions. In order to invoke the enemy alien provisions of the law in the case of Iran. we must clarify U.S. territory to include our embassies abroad. The legislation I proposed does exactly that.