Congressman James
Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and 114 conservatives in the House of
Representatives are pushing hard for a bill – the REAL ID Act – that
would make it more difficult for people persecuted for their religious beliefs to receive asylum
in the United States. Under the legislation, many refugees tortured,
raped and brutalized on the basis of their race, national origin or
political opinions would also be turned away. Sensenbrenner claims the
law is necessary "to prevent another 9/11-type attack by disrupting terrorist travel." But current law already bars anyone who poses a security risk
from being granted asylum. The bill also contains other provisions that
are an affront to core American principles, including federalism,
environmental stewardship and the rule of law.
BIPARTISAN COMMISSION CONDEMNS TREATMENT OF REFUGEES:
The REAL ID Act will add more problems to an already flawed system. The
bipartisan United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
recently released a report that found "thousands of people who come to
the United States saying they are seeking refuge from persecution are
treated like criminals while their claims are evaluated." Refugee are
frequently "strip-search, shackled and...thrown into solitary confinement in local jails and federal detention centers."
Some refugees are given no privacy to use the toilet and little chance
to exercise outdoors. Others are allowed to work but paid only $1 per
day. The commission recommended "a high-level protector of refugees be
appointed to monitor the system and correct inequities."
AN AFFRONT TO FEDERALISM: The REAL ID Act would also dictate to states driver's license eligibility requirements. Most significantly, it would invalidate all driver's licenses in 10 states
that grant licenses to undocumented immigrants until they changed their
policies. Officials in Washington State say such a mandate would
endanger its residents because it would prevent many immigrants on the
roads from obtaining automobile insurance. The bill, which contains no
privacy protections, would also require sensitive state driver's license data to be shared with Canada and Mexico.
2005 = 1984: In an Orwellian touch, the REAL ID Act contains a provision that authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to "waive any and all laws
in the course of securing the borders
from illegal immigration." The bill also contains "exemption from
judicial review that not only shields the waiver decisions from court
scrutiny but also strips courts of any power to order remedies for
anyone harmed by the consequences of such decisions." The provision
"would empower the DHS Secretary to give no-bid contracts for border
construction to private companies and then shield those contractors
from all employment discrimination and workplace safety laws." Another
big concern: the provision gives DHS free reign to waive environmental
laws across thousands of acres of federal lands. [more]
Article originally appeared on (http://brownwatch.com/).
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