Sen. Cruz: ‘Americans Who Pledge Their Allegiance to Terrorist Organizations Forfeit Their Rights as Citizens’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement regarding the arrest of Houston resident, Kaan Sercan Damlarkaya, for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, renewing his call to pass the Expatriate Terrorist Act (ETA), which he introduced earlier this year. This bill would allow the U.S. government to revoke the citizenship of Americans who knowingly join or provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations such as ISIS.

“The charges presented against Kaan Sercan Damlarkaya are deeply concerning and we are grateful for the FBI, DOJ and other law enforcement agents who worked to identify and apprehend him,” Sen. Cruz said. “It is a stark reminder that radical Islamic terror continues to pose a real threat to Americans on American soil – even in our home state of Texas – and must be taken seriously. Americans who pledge their allegiance to terrorist organizations forfeit their rights as citizens. We must act decisively in dealing with the threat of radical Islamic terrorism, and Congress and the administration should swiftly respond with a comprehensive, bold, and effective strategy to combat this violent extremism at home and abroad.”

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