New Bill Would Give Marco Rubio "Thought Police" Power to Revoke U.S. Passports
6 months ago
- #Terrorism Legislation
- #Civil Liberties
- #Free Speech
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked a Turkish student's visa for criticizing Israel, and a new bill could extend similar powers to revoke American passports over speech.
- Rep. Brian Mast's bill aims to deny passports to those accused of 'material support' for terrorism, raising fears of targeting free speech and enabling 'thought policing'.
- Critics argue the bill bypasses legal processes, lacks standards for appeals, and could be misused against journalists or activists, reflecting broader expansions of anti-terror laws post-October 7 attacks.
- Despite a safety valve for appeals, concerns remain about unchecked power and potential civil liberties infringements, with warnings that future administrations could abuse the provisions.
- The Intercept warns of Trump's authoritarian actions, including ignoring court orders and targeting press freedom, emphasizing the need for independent journalism to defend democracy.