FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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WASHINGTON – A coalition of human rights, religious, civil liberties and immigration rights groups voiced their opposition to Amendment 3018 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in a letter sent today to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California). The Feinstein amendment fails to address a central concern raised in the public debates: the specter of the military being used to police our streets and detain individuals on U.S. soil. The bill also unintentionally reinforces the false and discriminatory notion that due process protections are only afforded to some – not all – persons within the United States.

Superficially, Sen. Feinstein’s amendment looks like it could help, but in fact would cause harm. The Senate is currently debating the NDAA, and is within a day or two of voting again on the issue of indefinite detention without charge or trial in the United States. The amendment goes to the very heart of a basic premise in this country. That is why a no vote is needed on the Feinstein amendment.

A pdf version of the letter is available here:

www.aclu.org/national-security/due-process-guarantee-letter-re-opposition-feinstein-amendment-3018-ndaa.