Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz says he will introduce legislation to prevent American citizens who join ISIS from returning to the United States, when the Senate is back in session next week.
“Americans who choose to go to Syria or Iraq to fight with vicious ISIS terrorists are party to a terrorist organization committing horrific acts of violence, including beheading innocent American journalists who they have captured,” Cruz said Friday in a statement announcing his expected legislation.
When the Senate returns Monday, Cruz will introduce the “Expatriate Terrorist Act (E.T.A.) of 2014” which would make “becoming a member of, fighting for, or providing material assistance to a designated foreign terrorist organization that is working to attack the United States or its citizens” a de facto renunciation of their American citizenship.
“There can be no clearer renunciation of their citizenship in the United States, and we need to do everything we can to preempt any attempt on their part to re-enter our country and carry out further attacks on American civilians,” Cruz added.
In April, President Obama signed into law another Cruz bill aimed at preventing terrorists from entering the United States, this time as ambassadors. Obama said, however that he would merely use the law as “advisory” and leave enforcement to his discretion.