Rep. Diane Black (R-TN) has introduced legislation that would prevent the Obama Administration from diluting the Oath of Allegiance required for immigrants to become citizens.
The Oath of Allegiance exists for a reason,” Black said Thursday, announcing her bill. She added:
While our courts have long allowed exemptions to portions of this oath for those with deeply held religious and moral objections, the new guidelines from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services essentially amount to an exception for anyone who wants one. Not only is this bad policy, it also is at odds with federal law – which requires a person to show by clear and convincing evidence that they oppose reciting the clauses of the Oath that are in question.
Last week U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it was altering the eligibility requirements for modifications to the Oath of Allegiance.
While immigrants going through the naturalization process citizens are usually required to declare they will “bear arms on behalf of the United States” and “perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States,” the new guidance now allows for not only those with religious objections but also people with a strongly held beliefs to omit those portions.
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