VALUES
The Right-Wing's Broken Moral Compass
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 (http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M67076514624383711595665) 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
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M67076524624383711595665) by disrupting
terrorist travel." But current law already bars anyone who poses a security
risk (http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M67076534624383711595665) 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. (Share your thoughts on the right-wing's moral values at
ThinkProgress.org (http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M67076544624383711595665) .)
FAITH-BASED GROUPS SPEAK OUT: A diverse coalition of faith-based groups
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M67076554624383711595665) -- including an arm
of the National Association of Evangelicals, B'nai B'rith International and the
Midland Association of Churches -- have spoken out against the legislation. An
interfaith statement signed by the religious groups says, "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. We are committed to
resisting a fear driven agenda which violates our faith based principles."
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
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M67076564624383711595665) ." 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
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M67076574624383711595665) 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
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M67076584624383711595665) .
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
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M67076594624383711595665) 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. |
