Committee Print providing for reconciliation pursuant to H. Con. Res. 14, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025
Committee on Homeland Security
2025-04-29
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Source: Congress.gov
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Committee will come to order. Are there any other amendments to the amendment in the nature of a substitute? Mr. Chairman. Mr. Carter has an amendment. I have an amendment at the desk, number 16. Chairman, I seek recognition for the purpose of reserving a point of order. Point of order is reserved. Clerk, distribute the amendment. Clerk, report the amendment. An amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to the committee print by the Committee on Homeland Security offered by Mr. Carter of Louisiana, number 016. Without objection, the reading is dispensed with. The gentleman is recognized for five minutes on the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Last week, I led a delegation of House and Senate members to two ICE processing centers in Louisiana to meet with individuals who had their legal status revoked and remained in immigration detention. I led this tour to meet with individuals that the Trump administration abducted off the streets and jailed, and are now trying to deport them simply because they were exercising right to free speech. I'm troubled by this administration's blatant disregard for the rule of law. And I want to speak directly with individuals that Trump jailed without providing evidence of any crimes. Their detention and the possible deportation appears to be solely because he didn't like what they were saying. In America, right to free speech is not governed by what you like. In fact, you may dislike it strongly. You may disagree with it vehemently. You may hate every word that comes out of that person's mouth. But free speech is to be protected regardless of its content. This administration is trying to destroy the foundation of which this country was built. It's destroying the rule of law, due process, and now trying to restrict our right to free speech. And if these individuals can be jailed for exercising their First Amendment right, then any person in this country under the threat of doing so can be jailed the same way. That is why I'm introducing this amendment which states, no funds can be used to effectuate the detention or removal from the United States of any non-citizen whose legal status was terminated or visa revoked due to exercising their right to free speech. Now let me be clear. I do not support hate speech of any kind.
Speech that supports anti-Semitism or calls for violence. The individuals we met last week were clear. They don't support these. hate-speak items either. I'm troubled by the blatant attack we are already seeing on free speech, and I fear that it would go farther if it is a slippery, slippery slope when the administration decides to target individuals who are in this country legally and simply are co-authoring an op-ed in a student newspaper like Ramesa Ozturk did. an op-ed in a school newspaper. No person in the United States should live in fear of being targeted or persecuted for saying something that goes against this president or any other president of the United States. We do not live in a dictatorship. Yet we're seeing Donald Trump and his cabinet with the willful lack of accountability by the Republican majority in Congress. tried to destroy free speech and make people too afraid, including members of Congress, to voice opinions that he doesn't like. My amendment seeks to prevent further harm to one of the most cherished freedoms and rights that we have as citizens, free speech. I urge my colleagues to stand with me, to not be silent or complicit when it comes to something that I know because I respect and have had a chance to get to know many of you. That in your heart, you believe in free speech. In your hearts, you believe in understanding the value of our Constitution and what it stands for. The First Amendment, free speech, the Fifth Amendment, due process, both of which are being denied by citizens to support and advance a political agenda.
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