Should convicted criminals have their citizenship revoked as opposed to enduring many years as a non-tax payer

Question

Would it be in the interest of the people to remove the rights of those whose actions warrant punishment? Do you believe crime would be a popular alternative to hardwork and education if the end results leads to your social security number being erased, citizenship revoked and your driver's license suspended?

Answer 1

And what are you going to do with all these people? Are you going to ship them to another country? If so, who's going to accept them. Are we going to provide welfare benefits? If not, are you willing to accept a significant number of homeless persons in your neighborhood. This is not a viable solution.

Answer 2

Wow! This is a really good question.

First, you need to evaluate what sort of crimes could warrent deportation. Would you want to be deported for getting a speeding ticket, or leaving a bar intoxicated? Or, would those who commit capitol offenses only face deportation?

If you are asking on the standpoint that immigrants should have their citizenship revoked based on criminal offenses, then yes, I would agree that this is a program that should be researched. Why tolerate, and promost crimes committed by those of another counrty when in fact most countires have a stiffer punnishment than the US?

Now, if you're talking about deporting natural citizens for simple crimes such as getting a traffic ticket, then no.

Very interesting question.

Answer 3

I say yes, they don't deserve to be the citizen of the country. They should be deported right away and I think, that's the only way to make our country a safe place for the decent people. However, it's not gonna help either of the public or the Govt.if we just revoke their driver's license or Social Security Number only coz they will still remain lurking in our neighbourhood, which will cost us more crime and more murders.They are the Virus in our society and the country at large so needs to be destroyed completely.

Answer 4

It's one of those pesky Constitutional problems again.

The Constitution defines who gets to be a citizen, and how that citizenship may be revoked. So, taking people's citizenship away for the commission of felonies requires a Constitutional amendment, at the very least for natural born citizens and likely for those who have already been granted citizenship because of the Ex Post Facto Clause.

Not to mention, you have the "corruption of blood" problem if you're going to deny citizenship to the children (existing or later) of those whose citizenship was removed for committing a crime.

But you seem to miss the point the people in prison do have their rights taken away. The lose most freedom of speech, personal liberty of travel, many of the fundamental rights protected by Article IV, and in most states the right to vote.

OK, take away their driver's license too. That's fine. But if they can't exercise most of the rights of a citizen, what does it matter if they have citizen status or not? Except for their children, as noted above.

Answer 5

A convicted criminal does NOT have his social security number wiped out.

A convicted criminal (in many states) loses some constitutional rights, even after his release from prison (e.g., right to vote).

A convicted criminal still has to pay taxes.

It is in everyone's best interest for a criminal to be rehabilitated, and after his release, become a productive member of society. He would be subject to taxes and all other rules.

There is no advantage to stripping citizenship, as he would then have to be deported. Other countries would need to accept him, or he would (a) need to be detained longer at our expense; or (b) be released and work under the table and below the radar.

Now, what kind of option is that?

Answer 6

If someone was born in another country and later gained US citizenship then the US citizenship can be revoked and they can be deported to the other country, but if they are Born in the USA then they are the responsibility of the USA. Of course, since there's no where on earth to return them to, maybe we can launch them into space...

Answer 7

Well considering supposedly when you are convicted of a crime and are in jail your rights are revoked period end of story, but hell they are treated better than middle to lower income families. Honestly I think the prison system should be abolished and anyone convicted of a crime should be put on pay-per-view on the newest reality TV show called kill the dumbass.

Answer 8

And what would we do with those people who's citizenship we revoked? We can't deport them, as no other country would want them. And the US is biolt on the rights of citizens - to deny those rights leads us to a dictatorship...

However, I think prison should be harder - it should be a deterrent!

Answer 9

There is no point in doing that because there will always be a loop hole for the loop hole..the rights that should be taken away is when they are incarcerated,no tv or computers,mandatory college classes 7 days a week,visitation once a month 1 letter a week,and jailhouse clothes 365days.no coffee in the cell maybe the return rate would not be as inviting.

Answer 10

Revoking Citizenship utterly creates a situation like in the Terminal with Tom Hanks. the person will have no country. then what will you do with 'em? puuhhleeese

Answer 11

I don't think anyones citizenship should be taken away after they have served their time. They have paid for their crime acording to the judgement. If they take their citizenship away, why punish them in the first place.