Dear American,
I usually begin my daily column with the phrase “Dear Conservative.” However, every now and then there is a story so serious and important to this country that the message shouldn’t just apply to Conservatives… it should apply to everyone.
As you know, Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi has languished in a Mexican prison for three months after making a wrong turn and accidentally entering Mexico with otherwise legal firearms. Anyone who lives near the border or has traveled there knows that the signage can be incredibly confusing and it is easy to accidentally enter a Mexican customs lane.
This week, Sgt. Tahmooressi was sent back to El Hongo prison in Tecate, Mexico following his first hearing before a Mexican judge. At any point in the trial proceedings, the Judge can issue a ruling. After hearing Sgt. Tahmooressi’s side of the story – the fact that he legitimately made a wrong turn into Mexico – the Mexican judge refused to toss out the case.
This hearing was supposed to last three hours, but it ended up lasting almost nine hours. The whole time, Sgt. Tahmooressi told his side of the story. He told the judge how he accidentally made a wrong turn and entered Mexico. He told the judge how he frantically tried to get back to the United States once he realized his mistake. Apparently, none of this mattered to the judge!
Yes, I blame the Mexican Government and Judicial system for this. If they didn’t insist on prosecuting Andrew Tahmooressi, we wouldn’t be in this situation. But Andrew Tahmooressi also wouldn’t be in prison if President Barack H. Obama followed the damn law!
Believe it or not, Barack Obama is actually mandated by law to help secure Andrew Tahmooressi’s release.
Title 22, Chapter 23, Section 1732 of the United States Code says that whenever a United States citizen is wrongfully imprisoned by a foreign government, it is the President’s duty to work to secure that citizen’s release!
The law states that “whenever it is made known to the President that any citizen of the United States has been unjustly deprived of his liberty by or under the authority of any foreign government, it shall be the duty of the President forthwith to demand of that government the reasons of such imprisonment; and if it appears to be wrongful and in violation of the rights of American citizenship, the President shall forthwith demand the release of such citizen, and if the release so demanded is unreasonably delayed or refused, the President shall use such means, not amounting to acts of war and not otherwise prohibited by law, as he may think necessary and proper to obtain or effectuate the release; and all the facts and proceedings relative thereto shall as soon as practicable be communicated by the President to Congress.”
By ignoring Sgt. Tahmooressi’s plight, Obama is violating the law. He has an obligation to do everything in his power to help this Marine. He has a DUTY under the law to do everything in his power to secure Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi’s release, short of starting a war!
And when President Obama had a long conversation with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, at no time in the conversation did he mention Andrew Tahmooressi’s plight.
He has a legal DUTY to make that inquiry. And if he had made that inquiry, Obama would have realized that Sgt. Tahmooressi’s detainment was unjust.
The law is clear. The President has a duty to help Americans who are unjustly imprisoned outside of the United States. It is truly remarkable how even when it comes to something like this, Barack Obama is blatantly ignoring and violating the law.
He has a legal obligation to help Sgt. Tahmooressi, and yet his Commander-in-Chief refuses to even lift a finger to secure his release! This isn’t the tax code… there aren’t loopholes in this law. The LAW says that if a United States citizen is held unlawfully in a foreign country, the President of the United States has to do something about it!
And while President Obama twiddles his thumbs and avoids his Presidential responsibilities, this brave, honorable, and distinguished Marine is languishing in a Mexican prison cell!
If Barack H. Obama refuses to obey the law and work to secure Sgt. Tahmooressi’s release, then that responsibility shifts to YOU.
Join me in demanding that our Representatives and Senators put pressure on the Mexican government to bring an end to this great miscarriage of justice! Put Congress on notice that under no circumstance can Barack Obama be allowed to surrender this Marine!
Sincerely,
Joe Otto
Conservative Daily
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