Sharing Sen. Barbara Boxer's (D-CA) e-mail to me.

Dear Mr. McCarty:

Thank you for writing to express your opposition to the indefinite military detention of enemy combatants.  I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue, and I share your concern.

As you may know, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013 failed to include a provision that would have clarified that the military cannot detain individuals on U.S. soil who are suspected of terrorism.

Although the Obama Administration has made it clear that it "will not authorize the indefinite military detention without trial of American citizens," it is important that Congress eliminate any ambiguity about the intent of the law.

In the last Congress, I was proud to be a co-sponsor of the Due Process Guarantee Act, which would have clarified that American citizens arrested within the United States cannot be held indefinitely by the military.  Unfortunately, the 112th Congress did not enact this legislation.

As Congress considers the next Defense Authorization bill, please be assured that I will continue working to keep Americans safe from terrorism while defending the civil liberties that are so vital to American freedom and democracy.

Again, thank you for writing.  Please feel free to contact me again about this or other issues of concern to you.
Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator