National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
310 8th St. Suite 303 * Oakland, CA 94607 * (510)465-1984 * (510)465-1885 fax* www.nnirr.org

NNIRR Condemns House Leadership for Passing National Security Anti-Immigrant Bill
NNIRR calls for actions to delete in Conference the anti-immigrant provisions in H.R. 10, The 9/11 Recommendations Act

(Oakland – October 12, 2004) The National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR) condemns the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives for passing a bill that shamelessly undermines much needed immigration reforms and instead further links immigration enforcement to repressive national security provisions, endangering community safety and the rights of immigrants and refugees.

Last Friday, October 8, 2004, the House passed H.R. 10, the “9/11 Recommendations Act,” by a vote of 282-134, with 69 Democrats and 213 Republicans supporting it and 125 Democrats, eight Republicans and one independent opposing it. H.R. 10 includes a variety of anti-immigrant measures that have been rejected previously by Congress.

The Senate passed its counterpart, the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 (S.2845) on Wednesday, October 6. The Senate bill, while not having explicit anti-immigrant language in its provisions, has negative ramifications for the civil rights and liberties of the foreign-born. The Senate bill, concentrating on implementing the recommendations issued by the 9/11 Commission, contains specific provisions that could be reconciled with certain measures in the House bill, further jeopardizing immigration reforms. S.2845 contains provisions to standardize driver’s licenses across states, creating in effect a vehicle for a national ID card.

These two bills will now be sent to a conference committee to be reconciled and then sent for final approval before going before the president for ratification.

H.R. 10 dangerously moves the U.S. towards a new form of segregation where those without the right pigmentation or documentation will be further subjected to arrest and even deportation, in violation of fundamental rights. H.R. 10 promises to increase border militarization and promotes immigration enforcement measures that will destabilize communities.

Anti-Immigrant Provisions Must Be Deleted in Conference:

H.R. 10 contains the following anti-immigration provisions that must be defeated and deleted in conference:

*Prohibits states from issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants and places stringent criteria for their issuance, creating a de facto national ID card.
*Prevents states from accepting identity documents issued by foreign governments such as the Matrícula Consular ID card.
*Expands expedited removal powers and further weakens the due process rights of immigrants.
*Creates a new level of information and intelligence sharing between state and federal governments, linking databases.
*Creates more obstacles to persons seeking asylum in the U.S.
*Additionally, H.R. 10 will increase the number of full-time border patrol agents and immigration and customs enforcement investigators. It imposes harsh new requirements linked to immigration status on the issuance of social security numbers and authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to decide which documents are valid for identification.