Director of National Intelligence Nominee Tulsi Gabbard’s Position on Section 702

Lankford

RELEASED: January 12, 2025

James Paul Lankford is an American politician currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Oklahoma. A member of the Republican Party, Lankford has held this position since 2015. Prior to his Senate role, he represented Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015.

Oklahoma City, OK – Trump’s Policy and Intelligence Nomination: Senator Lankford Responds

 In a recent interview, ( Watch Video) Senator James Lankford addressed concerns regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. The discussion focused on Gabbard’s stance on Section 702, a key intelligence-gathering authority that allows the government to monitor terrorist communications overseas.

During her tenure in Congress, Gabbard was a vocal opponent of Section 702, citing concerns about protecting civil liberties. However, in a recent statement, she expressed support for the provision, asserting, “If confirmed as DNI, I will uphold Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights while maintaining vital national security tools like Section 702 to ensure the safety and freedom of the American people.”

When asked if Gabbard’s assurances were sufficient, Lankford responded affirmatively, acknowledging the significance of her recent position shift. “That was a very important piece for me,” he explained. He elaborated that Section 702 is solely intended to track terrorist activities overseas and has no application to domestic surveillance.

“It is for identifying individuals planning attacks against the U.S. from abroad and taking preemptive action,” Lankford clarified. He noted that Congress has implemented changes over the years to safeguard Americans’ civil rights. “When she came out and said, ‘This is something I’m going to stand for,’ it demonstrated her understanding of the DNI’s responsibility to prevent attacks before they occur,” Lankford added.

Mass Deportation Policy and Legal Enforcement

The interview also touched on President-elect Trump’s top agenda item: mass deportation of individuals residing illegally in the U.S. Trump recently stated in a one-on-one interview that deporting undocumented individuals is his primary objective.

When asked if he supported the wholesale deportation of all undocumented individuals, Lankford emphasized the importance of law enforcement. “If someone has violated the law in the United States, there should be consequences,” he stated. He underscored that the nation’s identity is rooted in its adherence to the rule of law.

Lankford explained that Trump’s policy prioritizes the removal of individuals with criminal records or final deportation orders issued by federal courts. “We have over a million people with final orders of removal who have not left the country,” he noted. “These cases have been reviewed by the courts, and ignoring those orders undermines our legal system.”

Lankford also distinguished between individuals awaiting the outcome of asylum cases and those with final deportation orders. “Let them work through their cases,” he said, emphasizing that the focus should remain on enforcing court rulings. “Once a court has issued an order, we cannot simply disregard it,” he concluded.

The senator’s comments reflect a nuanced approach to immigration enforcement that prioritizes adherence to legal protocols while allowing due process for those pursuing asylum claims. His support for Gabbard as DNI signals confidence in her commitment to balancing national security with civil liberties, a key concern amid evolving policy debates.