Civil Liberties

Senator Dodd believes that the Bush administration has been disastrous for American civil liberties. He opposes torture, wiretapping, and the Guantanamo detention camp.
In 2007 Dodd, along with some other Democrats, introduced the Constitution Act of 2007 into the Senate. The aim of the act is to ensure that the U.S. respects civil liberties and human rights. This bill would require habeas corpus for individuals held in U.S. custody, narrow the definition of unlawful enemy combatant to individuals who directly participate in a zone of active combat against the U.S.(as well as individuals who participated in attacks against America on September 11, 2001), and delete a legal provision that bars detainees from invoking Geneva Conventions as a source of rights at trial.

Chris Dodd For President

Immigration

Dodd believes that the current U.S. immigration system is in urgent need of reform. At the same time, he believes immigration is one of the foundations of American society, and that the U.S. should not deny local governments the power to help immigrants who have problems. He has stated:

"We're a nation of immigrants here. We have succeeded in no small measure because we have been a welcoming people here. We also understand we cannot tolerate 400,000 to 500,000 people coming to this country as undocumented workers each year. We need to have a far better system in place that stops that flow coming in, to deal with the 12 to 20 million who are here illegally. If in the meantime here, we're dealing with children, we're dealing with crime problems, we're dealing with health issues at the local community, then you need to allow these local communities to do that.

If it means temporarily engaging in a sanctuary protection here, then so be it if that protects our country. In the meantime, we need to have national leadership, a president that would be able to bring together the Congress and pass the kind of immigration laws that we frankly don't have on the books today."

In May 1998, Dodd voted for visas for skilled workers. In May 2006, he voted to establish a guest worker program and to give guest workers a path to citizenship, and in September of that year, he voted to establish a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border. Dodd also voted to allow illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. He has stated that he does not believe drivers licenses should be given to illegal immigrants.

Dodd voted for the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill (S. 1639) in June 2007.

Dodd On The Issues

Iran

Dodd believe the U.S. should have the right to use sanctions to keep Iran's government from acquiring nuclear weapons, and that military action should be an option, though only as a last resort.   He believes Iran poses a threat to the United States.  At the same time, he has been very skeptical of the Bush administration's statements concerning Iran.  In a speech on the Senate floor, he said:

"I am deeply troubled by this Administration’s escalating rhetoric against Iran, especially intelligence from unnamed officials that is not fully documented. It is frighteningly reminiscent of the pattern we saw in the drumbeat that led to the war with Iraq. We continue to witness the lethal consequences of our failed policies in Iraq. I will not remain silent should the Bush Administration attempt to lead us down a similar path with respect to Iran."

In the same speech, Dodd emphasized the importance of diplomacy in dealing with Iran: "Unfortunately, until very recently the Bush Administration sat on the side lines and did nothing to engage Iran in any meaningful dialogue to press Iran to change course. The United States must exhaust all avenues--robust diplomacy and direct negotiations coupled with economic pressures on Iran's financial and energy sectors. While the United States should never take any option off the table to advance our national security interests, it is critical that all options be carefully analyzed and the implications of their use fully understood. Based on the Administration's track record I have no faith that it will behave judiciously."

Statement of Senator Dodd on the Senate floor, February 13, 2007

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