AR181

An Assembly Resolution urging Congress to prohibit any United States citizen or resident who joins a foreign terror organization, including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria from returning to the United States.

Whereas, According to President Obama’s administration, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) poses the most serious threat to the United States since Al Queda before the September 11, 2001 attacks and is known for brutally killing dozens of people at a time and carrying out public executions, crucifixions, and other heinous acts; and

Whereas, In August and September 2014, ISIS posted videos of the executions of two United States journalists, and recently posted a video of the execution of a British aid worker, making the aid worker the third Western captive to be killed by ISIS in recent weeks; and

Whereas, ISIS has taken over large areas of northern and western Iraq, currently controlling hundreds of square miles; and by ignoring international borders has a presence from Syria’s Mediterranean coast to South of Baghdad; and

Whereas, As ISIS has seized large expanses of territory in recent months, it has drawn more foreigners to Syria to fight for ISIS, requiring more American and European law enforcement resources to attempt to stop the flow of fighters into Syria; and

Whereas, According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), United States officials and analysts estimate that the number of people fighting for ISIS throughout Iraq and Syria has grown to between 20,000 and 31,500, which is three times more than the initial estimate of 10,000 people; and

Whereas, The number of Americans who have joined the rebel groups in Syria, including ISIS, has nearly doubled since January 2014 according to American intelligence officials, who believe that more than 100 Americans have fought alongside these groups since the war began three years ago; and

Whereas, United States officials fear that Americans who have joined the rebel groups could easily return to this country radicalized and apply terrorist training they received while in Syria; and

Whereas, It is necessary for Congress to prohibit any United States citizen or resident who leaves the country to join, fight for, or provide assistance to a foreign terrorist organization, including ISIS, from re-entering the United States in order to protect this nation from potential acts of terror by these individuals; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to prohibit any United States citizen or resident who leaves the country to join, fight for, or provide assistance to a foreign terrorist organization from re-entering the United States in order to protect the citizens of this nation from acts of terror.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the presiding officers of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, and to each member of Congress elected from the State of New Jersey.

STATEMENT

This resolution urges Congress to prohibit any United States citizen or resident who joins a foreign terror organization from re-entering the United States.

According to President Obama’s administration, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is the group that poses the most serious threat to the United States since Al Queda before the September 11, 2001 attacks. The group is known for brutally killing dozens of people at a time and carrying out public executions, crucifixions, and other heinous acts. ISIS has taken over large areas of northern and western Iraq and currently controls hundreds of square miles.

As ISIS has seized large expanses of territory in recent months, it has drawn more foreigners to Syria to join ISIS, requiring more American and European law enforcement resources to attempt to stop the flow of fighters into Syria.

According to American intelligence officials, the number of Americans who have joined the rebel groups in Syria, including ISIS, has nearly doubled since January 2014, with officials believing that more than 100 Americans have fought with these rebel groups since the war began three years ago.

United States officials fear that Americans who have joined the rebel groups could easily return to this country radicalized and apply terrorist training they received in Syria.

As a result, it is necessary for Congress to prohibit any United States citizen or resident who leaves the country to join, fight for, or provide assistance to a foreign terrorist group, including ISIS, from re-entering this country in order to protect this nation from potential acts of terror by these individuals.