Senate Rejects Amendment Banning Indefinite Detention
Today, the Senate voted 38-60 to reject an important amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have removed harmful provisions authorizing the U.S. military to pick up and imprison without charge or trial civilians, including American citizens, anywhere in the world. The amendment offered by Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), would have replaced those provisions with a requirement for an orderly congressional review of detention power.
The Secretary of Defense, the Director of National Intelligence, the Director of the FBI and the head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division have all said that the indefinite detention provisions in the NDAA are harmful and counterproductive, and the White House has issued a veto threat over the provisions.
We’re disappointed that, despite robust opposition to the harmful detention legislation from virtually the entire national security leadership of the government, the Senate said ‘no’ to the Udall amendment and ‘yes’ to indefinite detention without charge or trial.
The next opportunity to remove the harmful detention provisions from the bill will be when House and Senate conferees meet in conference committee next week.
If the conference committee fails to remove the detention provisions, President Obama should follow through with his veto threat. Today’s vote on the Udall amendment shows there’s more than enough opposition to these provisions to sustain a veto. Stay tuned for more information.
UPDATE: The vote changed from 37-61 to 38-60. The final vote is reflected in the post.
Learn more about indefinite detention: Sign up for breaking news alerts, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.




Nov 29th, 2011 at 10:22pm
A link to the voting record would be helpful...
This is disgraceful!
Nov 29th, 2011 at 11:29pm
This feels like an attempt to distract us from the fact that the WHOLE THING should be scrapped.
Nov 29th, 2011 at 11:35pm
....and all the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't put humpty together again.
Nov 30th, 2011 at 2:22am
Get Ready For Nazi Germany in the US.
Nov 30th, 2011 at 9:40am
The price of freedom is to have some fear in our lives, to completely eliminate fear is to completely eliminate personal freedom.
Nov 30th, 2011 at 5:43pm
welcome to the Animal Farm located in the New World Order-- AS ORDERED!!
Nov 30th, 2011 at 6:20pm
Link?
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/ roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00210
Nov 30th, 2011 at 6:25pm
Congress is sworn to "support and defend" the Constitution, aren't they? What happens if you violate your oath?
Nov 30th, 2011 at 8:13pm
I wonder what else needs to happen in order for people to wake up?
Everything is "funny" to majority of citizens...the OWS, corporations being "people", etc. Well, it's not funny! Not anymore.
Nov 30th, 2011 at 9:13pm
Millions of american lives lost in the name of freedom all in vain.
Nov 30th, 2011 at 9:42pm
It's also misleading as Section 1032(b)(1) states that it doesn't apply to US Citizens or Legal Aliens.
Dec 1st, 2011 at 12:18pm
Are you ready for 'gestapo' types to yank you out of bed in the middle of the night and haul you off (bypassing the knocking on the door)?
Dec 1st, 2011 at 1:36pm
Go back to sleep everyone~the government is in control! This is a disgrace! Where has my country gone?
Dec 1st, 2011 at 1:49pm
BWWWHHHHAAAAA!!! READ SECTION 1032 you morons. does not apply to US citizens
Dec 1st, 2011 at 6:02pm
Get out while you can!
Dec 1st, 2011 at 6:13pm
I echo the request for a breakdown of the vote.
Dec 1st, 2011 at 6:27pm
Comment 10: Then tomorrow's bill will be to strip citizenship from "terrorists and subversives."
Dec 1st, 2011 at 9:03pm
What a bunch of old duckfaces is leading that nation?..
Dec 1st, 2011 at 10:12pm
not taking my post
Dec 1st, 2011 at 10:12pm
not taking my posts wtf???
Dec 1st, 2011 at 11:01pm
STUDY REAL HISTORY OF USA and 3rd REICH!
The Reich of the 4th Reich started already 1943!
Dec 2nd, 2011 at 1:41am
The day this bill is passed is the day that America officially declares war on the rest of the planet.
The "new" day of infamy will be December 7th 2011.
Dec 2nd, 2011 at 9:49am
Come and Take It!
Dec 2nd, 2011 at 9:52am
The senate is filled with traitors to their oath to uphold the Constitution.
Dec 2nd, 2011 at 2:22pm
amerika ubber alles! and read the small print....including american citizens if they feel like it!
Dec 2nd, 2011 at 2:25pm
amerika ubber alles! and read the small print....including american citizens if they feel like it!
Dec 3rd, 2011 at 3:31pm
Republicans surrendered to 19 dead men on 9/11/01.
Dec 3rd, 2011 at 7:58pm
The 'Slippery Slope' continues! Next will be a real War Mongering President, a False Flag Attack on Israel, WW3, and Martial Law in the U.S. Prepare to loose all the liberty and rights our forefathers fought and died for.
Dec 4th, 2011 at 10:16am
This is the stupidest thing ever to hit our govt as a bill or law to be passed.... Well..... yeah, we're free. OK
Dec 6th, 2011 at 5:26pm
Social contract = broken.
Dec 7th, 2011 at 3:48am
somebody please provide the language in this bill that allows the US to detain US citizens indefinitely.
Dec 8th, 2011 at 2:43am
ACLU - please answer posts 13 and 28.
thanks
Canadian
Dec 8th, 2011 at 9:32pm
Oh man!
Dec 9th, 2011 at 2:17pm
I hear the sound of jack boots now!
Dec 11th, 2011 at 1:16am
THE CONSTITUTION HAS BEEN SUBVERTED...THAT IS TREASON. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. WE MUST ARREST THE SENATE.
Dec 14th, 2011 at 9:11pm
Yeah, and now the T"SS"A has set up highway checkpoints in Tennessee with the intent to deploy them nationwide, Amerika is now worse than NAZI Germany.
Dec 15th, 2011 at 12:50pm
Haha. whatta bunch of crap. Screw the "Government" that is trying to do "Everything in our best interest." Get ready for WW3
Dec 24th, 2011 at 2:15am
This is frightening ... what can we do? Is the supreme court going to save us? Checks and balances! CHECKS AND BALANCES!!!
Jan 18th, 2012 at 8:09pm
This "act" goes against everything the founding Fathers had in mind for the future an integrity of the US.
Post new comment