A bill to prohibit the release of enemy combatants into the United States.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 20, 2009

Defines "covered individual" as any individual who: (1) has been determined by a Combatant Status Review Tribunal to be an enemy combatant or is awaiting the determination of such a tribunal; (2) is in U.S. custody at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and (3) is not a U.S. citizen or an alien admitted for permanent residence.

Prohibits: (1) a court from ordering a covered individual's release into the United States; and (2) the Secretary of State from issuing any visa and the Secretary of Homeland Security from admitting or providing any type of status to a covered individual that permits such individual's entry or admission into the United States.

States that a covered individual who is no longer held as an enemy combatant shall be: (1) released into the Secretary of Homeland Security's custody for expeditious transfer to such individual's country of nationality or to another country; and (2) housed separately from aliens detained as enemy combatants in a manner consistent with the safety of U.S. personnel.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] · R–SC

Committees

Judiciary Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

May 20, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
May 20, 2009
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · May 20, 2009 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.1081 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.1081, 111th Congress: A bill to prohibit the release of enemy combatants into the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/1081

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-05-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s1081/BILLS-111s1081is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1081 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1081 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1081, 111th Congress: A bill to prohibit the release of enemy combatants into the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/1081

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-05-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s1081/BILLS-111s1081is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1081 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1081 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1081, 111th Congress: A bill to prohibit the release of enemy combatants into the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/1081

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-05-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s1081/BILLS-111s1081is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1081 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1081 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1081, 111th Congress: A bill to prohibit the release of enemy combatants into the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/1081

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-05-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s1081/BILLS-111s1081is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1081 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.