The Trump regime’s threat to suspend the writ of habeas corpus is a blatant overreach of executive power that Congress must swiftly condemn and reject. The Constitution explicitly states that the privilege of the writ shall not be suspended “unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.” However, as multiple federal judges have ruled in recent weeks, the United States is not currently facing a rebellion or invasion that would justify such an extraordinary measure.
By attempting to unilaterally suspend habeas corpus without congressional approval, the president is flouting the clear separation of powers enshrined in our founding document. The writ of habeas corpus is a fundamental safeguard against arbitrary detention, a cornerstone of our civil liberties that dates back centuries. Its suspension would enable the unchecked imprisonment of American citizens without due process, a terrifying prospect that strikes at the heart of our democratic principles.
Congress must speak out forcefully to remind the president that only the legislative branch has the authority to suspend this critical constitutional protection. The judicial branch has already weighed in, affirming that the conditions for suspension do not exist. Any attempt by the executive to circumvent these co-equal branches would represent a dangerous consolidation of power and an assault on the rule of law.
The American people deserve to have their civil liberties vigorously defended by their elected representatives. Failure to condemn this authoritarian overreach would be a dereliction of Congress’s sworn duty to uphold the Constitution. Grave threats to our democracy demand an equally resolute response grounded in the principles that have guided our nation for over two centuries. The sanctity of habeas corpus must not be sacrificed at the altar of expediency or political opportunism.
First sent on May 10 by Coleman · 5,376 signers in
the past 7 days
