Rubio’s Bill Could Strip US Passports Over Political Speech
A new bill introduced in the House of Representatives raises concerns among free speech advocates who fear it could empower the Secretary of State to revoke U.S. passports based on political speech. The bill grants the Secretary of State the authority to deny passports to individuals merely charged with or suspected of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Critics argue that the bill would allow the Secretary of State to bypass legal processes and unilaterally strip passports, potentially targeting individuals for their views. The bill’s language mirrors a previous attempt to limit nonprofit status based on similar grounds, raising alarms about thought policing and the potential for subjective interpretations to restrict fundamental rights.
John Q. Hosedrinker