Trump signs major disaster declaration for Texas flooding response
The declaration is 'to ensure that our brave first responders immediately have the resources they need. These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing,' Trump posted on social media.
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Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Dual citizenship concerns simmer below the surface
Nearly 7 million Americans have sworn allegiance to another country besides the US, data shows. Some might brush off the issue of dual citizenship because it only impacts about 3 percent of America's population. But compare that with the No. 1 concern of many Americans today: the 11.7 million foreigners who have entered the country and are living there illegally. Why is the issue of illegal migration so much more of a concern for American political leaders than the issue of swearing an oath of loyalty to a foreign country? Both were in the news last week, but they were addressed very differently by both politicians and by the mainstream news media. Congress on Thursday passed President Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' which sets aside more than $170 billion for immigration and border enforcement. However, the new law does not address the issue of dual citizenship. But this took center stage at the White House the same day, when the president greeted Edan Alexander, a dual American-Israeli citizen and soldier in the Israeli military who was held hostage by Hamas after being captured during the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack. Born and raised in New Jersey, the 21-year-old moved to Israel in 2022, where he swore an oath of allegiance to Israel to gain citizenship. He then enlisted in the army and was serving as a staff sergeant when he was captured. He was freed by Hamas in May in an apparent goodwill gesture as part of negotiations to secure a ceasefire. During the White House meeting, no mention was made of the fact that he had never served in the US military to defend America. Pro-Israel propaganda has extensively used Alexander's US citizenship to fuel anti-Arab sentiments. It asserts that Hamas and Palestinians generally are not just anti-Israel, they are also anti-American. But the real question is, can someone who pledges loyalty and patriotism to a foreign country truly be an American? As a Palestinian American who served during the Vietnam War, whose brother served in the US Marines and whose father and uncle served during the Second World War fighting the Nazis, why is our loyalty questioned but not Alexander's — a person who has never served America but has served a foreign country? Ironically, the loyalty of Americans of Arab heritage like myself — and especially those who are Muslim — is often questioned, challenged and even used as a basis to confront our expressions of concern for Israel's war crimes and genocide in the Gaza Strip over the past two years. The real question is, can someone who pledges loyalty and patriotism to a foreign country truly be an American? Ray Hanania Arab and Muslim students protesting Israel's Gaza war on college campuses have been viciously attacked and accused of antisemitism. The US Justice Department has launched efforts to expel them. Most American politicians prefer to avoid the issue of dual citizenship, but they pounce on false accusations of anti-Americanism by pro-Palestine students. While pro-Israel propaganda has suppressed public debate over the treachery of a person swearing dual national loyalties, the issue continues to force its way into public debates. In March, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduced legislation — the Dual Loyalty Disclosure Act — that, if it were to become law, would require Americans who run for federal office to declare if they have citizenship of a foreign country. 'Dual citizens elected to the United States Congress should renounce citizenship in all other countries,' said Rep. Massie. 'At a minimum, they should disclose their citizenship in other countries and abstain from votes specifically benefiting those countries. If we are going to continue to allow members of Congress to acquire and retain citizenship in other countries, they should at least be required to disclose to voters all countries of which they consider themselves to be citizens." The bill is co-sponsored by, among others, Reps. Andy Biggs, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Clay Higgins, all supporters of Trump who have been vocal about opposing excessive foreign aid to all countries, including Israel, and redirecting those funds to 'American needs.' Dual citizenship is an issue of patriotism for every nation. Why should people who enjoy citizenship and benefits in one country be able to pledge their loyalty to another country and serve in its military? It is an expression of that person's lack of faith in the country in which they live. It is like having a plan B: just in case things do not go well in one country, they can use their dual citizenship to flee to another country and to be loyal to it instead. Dual citizenship is a political contradiction that challenges the foundation of national loyalty. It should be banned, not just in America but in every country around the world.
Leaders
3 hours ago
- Leaders
Brazil Hosts BRICS Summit, Seeks to Avoid Provoking U.S. Under Trump
Brazil will host the BRICS summit of emerging economies Sunday and Monday, navigating sensitive issues such as Israel's recent attack on Iran, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and U.S. trade tariffs under former President Donald Trump with notable caution. Analysts and diplomats highlight challenges to BRICS' unity following its expansion last year, which doubled its membership and complicated efforts to position the bloc as a new global power center. The summit's restrained agenda is widely seen as a deliberate effort by member states to steer clear of provoking Trump's administration. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is prioritizing topics like artificial intelligence and climate change, even as several key leaders will be absent from the talks. China's President Xi Jinping will miss the BRICS summit for the first time since assuming office in 2012, while Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate via video link amid an international arrest warrant linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Careful Language on Controversial Issues The Rio de Janeiro summit marks a contrast with last year's more confrontational meeting in Russia, where Moscow pushed to create alternatives to U.S.-dominated payment systems as a means to sidestep Western sanctions. A source involved in the summit's preparation, speaking anonymously, said some members have sought stronger language condemning the Gaza crisis and Iran-related tensions, but Brazil aims to keep discussions technical and low-profile. Oliver Stuenkel, a political science professor at Brazil's Getulio Vargas Foundation, expects the final statement to be deliberately vague on Ukraine and Middle Eastern conflicts. The absence of Putin and Xi, who favor a tougher anti-Western stance, is likely to soften the summit's tone, contrasting with Brazil and India's preference for a non-aligned approach. A Brazilian official told Reuters the group plans to issue three joint statements and a final declaration, all tempered to avoid escalating geopolitical tensions. João Alfredo Nyegray, a geopolitics expert at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, said the summit had the potential to offer an alternative voice amid global instability but is hampered by the withdrawal of Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and uncertain representation from Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. 'This moment calls for high-level coordination, but instead we see fragmentation,' Nyegray noted. Brazil Cautious Amid U.S. Trade Concerns As chair of BRICS, Brazil has outlined six strategic priorities: healthcare cooperation, trade and investment, climate change, governance of artificial intelligence, peace and security, and institutional development. The emphasis on less contentious topics like intra-BRICS trade and global health reflects Brazil's cautious approach after Trump's return to the White House. Ana Garcia, a professor at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, said Brazil is keen to avoid antagonizing the Trump administration to protect its economy from tariff retaliation. Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on BRICS countries should they challenge the dominance of the U.S. dollar — a risk Brazil is working hard to avoid, even as it continues to call for reform of Western-led global institutions. Key Leaders Absent as BRICS Expands Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Egypt's Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will also be absent. Both countries joined BRICS in 2024 alongside Ethiopia, Indonesia, and the UAE. Saudi Arabia, invited to participate in discussions, has yet to confirm its membership. With the bloc now including 10 strategic partners — such as Belarus, Cuba, and Vietnam — Brazil has added 'institutional development' to the agenda to manage the group's rapid growth and improve cohesion. Despite the absences, the summit remains a critical forum for emerging economies to explore alternatives amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty caused by Trump-era trade policies, according to Bruce Scheidl, a BRICS expert at the University of Sao Paulo. For Lula, the summit offers a respite from domestic political challenges, including declining popularity and tensions with Congress. It also provides a platform to advance climate negotiations ahead of the COP30 talks scheduled for November in Belém, Brazil. Related Topics: Brazil to Host Next BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro Saudi Arabia's Entry into BRICS: What Does It Mean for the Global South? Russian First Deputy PM Comments on Saudi Arabia Joining BRICS Short link : Post Views: 158
Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
BRICS voice ‘serious concerns' about Trump tariffs' Summit Statement
BRICS leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro Sunday warned that US President Donald Trump's 'indiscriminate' import tariffs risked hurting the global economy.
