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February 9, 2005
After delaying critically important intelligence reform legislation in the last Congress over a misguided campaign against our nation's immigrants, conservative members of the House are at it again—playing politics instead of safeguarding America from another terrorist attack. House Judiciary Committee F. James Sensenbrenner, and 114 conservatives in the House of Representatives, are pushing the REAL ID Act, a bill that would dramatically restrict access for those seeking political asylum—including individuals facing persecution for their religious beliefs. The bill also dictates to states how they issue drivers licenses, possibly leading to the establishment of a national identification card, and exempts the federal government from complying with all federal laws in building security fencing on our nation's borders. Our nation needs meaningful immigration reform—REAL ID is a step in the wrong direction.
- REAL ID is a false solution to the real problem of document fraud. Although document fraud is a pervasive problem that needs attention, not a single 9/11 hijacker would have been prevented from obtaining a driver's license under this bill. Moreover, the bill's burdensome requirements for the issuing of drivers licenses could invalidate all driver's licenses in 10 states, endangering residents by increasing the number of unlicensed and uninsured drivers on our roads. Many also fear that stringent federal standards for driver's licenses will become a de facto national identification card.
- REAL ID is a false solution to the real problem of border security. 9/11 tragically highlighted the need to improve our border security, but the bill would only make legitimate asylum seekers face an impossibly high standard to gain admission to the U.S. Many asylum seekers have been tortured, raped and brutalized on the basis of their race, national origin or political opinions. Current law already bars anyone involved in terrorist activity from entering the country. Better enforcement at our borders is needed, not measures that exclude legitimate asylum seekers.
- REAL ID is an affront to our nation's values and commitment to spreading democracy. The president's inaugural address claimed that freedom was the calling of all mankind, yet a diverse coalition of faith-based groups oppose REAL ID, saying, "We believe that the religious traditions which we embrace calls us to oppose a narrowing of the door to asylum by some of the world's most at risk persons." And the bipartisan United States Commission on International Religious Freedom recently condemned our treatment of refugees in our nation's jails, a situation that would only be made worse by REAL ID.
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
