Portman to Obama: Arrest ISIS fighters in US

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) blasted President Obama’s plan to track U.S. supporters of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as “reckless.”

Portman said instead of tracking the fighters after they reenter the United States, the administration should revoke their visas and detain the terrorists.

{mosads}“The Secretary of State should use his existing legal authority to revoke their passports immediately,” Portman said Tuesday. “In addition, the administration should reconsider its reckless plan to ‘track’ American ISIS fighters who return home and instead plan to detain or arrest and prosecute them.”

Portman’s comments came in response to a “60 Minutes” interview with FBI Director James Comey, where he said the administration already knows the identity of Americans fighting with ISIS.

Portman said the administration isn’t obligated to allow Americans to reenter the country of they have “taken up arms” against the United States.

“The president can detain captured American ISIS fighters as enemy combatants,” Portman said. “At a minimum, the president has ample authority to arrest and prosecute American ISIS fighters for any number of crimes, including treason and providing material support to a terrorist organization.”

The administration has launched airstrikes against the terrorist group that has taken control over parts of Syria and Iraq. Some members of Congress have called for an official declaration of war, but lawmakers don’t return to Washington until after the midterm elections next month.