Senate strips ‘indefinite detention’ for Americans from 2012 NDAA
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/11/30/senate-strips-indefinite-detention-from-2012-ndaa/
Senate strips indefinite detention for Americans from 2012 NDAA
By Stephen C. Webster
Friday, November 30, 2012 13:14 EST
The U.S. Senate approved an amendment on Thursday that strips a controversial provision from the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act that allows the indefinite detention of American citizens within the U.S. by the military.
The amendment passed by a vote of 67 to 29. All but four of the Senators who voted against civilian trials for Americans were Republicans. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Mark Pryor (D-AR) crossed over to oppose the amendment, and they were joined by Joe Lieberman (I-CT).
The amendment reads: An authorization to use military force, a declaration of war, or any similar authority shall not authorize the detention without charge or trial of a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States apprehended in the United States, unless an Act of Congress expressly authorizes such detention.
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It is inconsistent with the Constitution, which makes clear that basic due process rights apply to everyone in the United States, ACLUs Chris Anders wrote. No group of immigrants should be denied the most basic due process right of all the right to be charged and tried before being imprisoned.