Cruz says Americans fighting with Islamic State should no longer be U.S. citizens

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) next week will introduce legislation that would treat Americans as non-citizens if they decide to leave the country to fight alongside the Islamic State, or any other foreign entity designated as a terrorist group.

Cruz's Expatriate Terrorist Act is a response to reports that dozens of Americans have left to fight with the Islamic State, and that some have even been allowed to return home.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will soon propose a bill stripping people's U.S. citizenship if they leave the country to fight with the Islamic State. Image source: YouTube

"Americans who choose to go to Syria or Iraq to fight with vicious ISIS terrorists are party to a terrorist organization committing horrific acts of violence, including beheading innocent American journalists who they have captured," Cruz said. "There can be no clearer renunciation of their citizenship in the United States, and we need to do everything we can to preempt any attempt on their part to re-enter our country and carry out further attacks on American civilians."

His bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to deem certain activities in support of terrorism as a renunciation of U.S. nationality.

Earlier this week, Rep. Michele Bachman (R-Minn.) said she would introduce similar legislation that would not allow people to return to the U.S. after they leave to fight with the Islamic State.

Over the August break, some members of Congress have grown more anxious about the Obama administration's response to the Islamic State, and its execution of two U.S. reporters. Obama said in August that he has no strategy yet for dealing with the group in Syria, which led some Republicans to insist that Obama come up with a plan and present it to Congress as soon as possible.

Others, like Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), are proposing legislation that would authorize Obama to use force against the Islamic State or other terrorist groups around the world.