A Dangerous and Deplorable Ruling

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has issued a dangerous and deplorable ruling, holding that foreign nationals held by the United States outside U.S. territory have no right to challenge their detention.  By upholding Congress’ unprecedented attempt to allow the government the power to detain people unlawfully, the Court’s ruling is a threat to liberty and the rule of law.

Under this ruling, the government may grab any non-citizen and lock him or her away forever without having to answer for its actions.  Even now, the Bush Administration has been holding individuals at Guantanamo Bay for years, even though the government acknowledges that some of them are not terrorists and pose no danger to the United States.

If Congress and the President can simply eliminate judicial review of a person’s imprisonment, then liberty is in grave danger.  We are a great nation because we are a beacon to the world of freedom and the rule of law.  This decision strikes a terrible blow at the heart of our nation.