Donald Trump's administration has rewritten US Bill of Rights on White House website
|
Version 0 of 1. The White House has published its own version of the Bill of Rights on its website – and notably replaced any mention of "people" with "citizens". The implication with the revision implies that rights guaranteed under the US Constitution applies only to US citizens – which is patently false. Through his most executive orders, President Donald Trump has targeted non-citizens, whether undocumented, previously vetted, and those with permanent legal status. According to the White House, the Second Amendment "gives citizens the right to bear arms". However, the clause in the Bill of Rights reads: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." The Fourth Amendment protects, "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures". But the White House says it "protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure". And the Fifth Amendment says: "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury". The White House changed the Amendment to say that it "provides that citizens not be subject to criminal prosecution and punishment without due process". The White House has not officially changed the Constitution in any legal capacity – that would require a two-thirds vote from Congress for each Amendment – it puts out a dangerous implication that the Bill of Rights applies to US citizens exclusively. |