Kansas Congressman Wants to Codify Immigrants' 'Oath of Allegiance'
by Chad Groening
May 3, 2004
(AgapePress) - A Kansas congressman has introduced legislation that would codify the oath of allegiance immigrants must make when they become U.S. citizens. The bill would make it clear that new citizens must be loyal to their new country -- and would prevent that oath from being watered down.Republican Jim Ryan was concerned about proposed changes to the oath of allegiance drafted by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. Ryan says those changes were intended to make the language more modern, but instead would transform an absolute commitment to the Constitution into a conditional statement, weakening citizenship.
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Rep. Jim Ryan |
"What we're attempting to do with the oath of allegiance and with legal immigration is to continue to encourage those who are coming in that this is a great country and these are the standards that we've had in the past," Ryan explains. "We want to all be on the same page as we move forward, fighting this war on terrorism -- and I don't believe this is the time to lower those standards."The Kansas lawmaker introduced HR 3191 in September 2003, which he says would codify into law what the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services wants to change. He says those who want to pursue the "American dream" need to realize it requires a full-time commitment to citizenship -- and a willingness to defend the United States.
"[The Bureau's] thought was that they need modernize things -- and yet in the language that was offered, I felt that they compromised the integrity and the intent by downgrading things such as the immigrant coming in and having to swear allegiance to the country, to obeying the laws, and if needed to bear arms," he says. [During] this war against terror, we don't need to send that message."
The Code of Federal Regulations currently requires applicants for U.S. citizenship to recite the following oath:
I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.
(CFR, Title 8, 337.1, paragraph (a))According to Ryan, HR 3191 -- which is working its way through the House Judiciary Committee -- would establish the oath of allegiance as federal law, giving it the same protection as the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. The names of more than 60 co-sponsors are attached to the legislation.
