1. United States
2. S.C.
3. Letter

The proposal to deport U.S. citizens who have been convicted of crimes raises significant legal and constitutional concerns. Forcibly removing citizens from the country and sending them to prisons abroad would violate fundamental rights afforded by citizenship. The ability to challenge one's detention and conditions of confinement through due process is a bedrock constitutional principle that applies to all citizens, regardless of criminal history. Stripping away these protections and subjecting U.S. nationals to indefinite foreign imprisonment with no legal recourse is an egregious violation of civil liberties. This heavy-handed approach discards core democratic values and undermines the rule of law. Exploring lawful means to address criminal conduct while upholding constitutional safeguards for all citizens must be the prioritized path forward. Failure to do so would represent an unacceptable erosion of essential freedoms.