DHS considering oath revisions (again)
According to the Siskind Immigration Bulletin, the Department of Homeland
Security is considering changing the Oath of Allegiance, to include
disavowing loyalty to terrorist organizations. The current oath requires
all new Americans to renounce "all allegiance and fidelity to any
foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty of whom or which they
have been subjects or citizens."
A DHS spokesman said that the new proposed oath would not specifically
mention "terrorist groups," but would include a broad term
such as "all foreign powers." DHS officials currently believe
that the Oath of Allegiance is outdated for the post-September 11 world.
Siskind
Immigration Bulletin
On April 1, 2004, Alfonso Aguilar, head of the new Office for Citizenship,
offered a statement
to the House Subcommittee on Immigration explaining
his rationale for revising the oath.
Washington Times story, April 2, 2004 "US
Congress to Examine Citizenship Oath."