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Say No to Expansion of the Patriot Act, National ID
Say No to the REAL ID Act.
Last week the REAL ID Act of 2005 passed through the U.S. House of Representatives. Like the PATRIOT Act, the bill makes the false promise: that "securing" the country means rolling back freedom and targeting immigrants. If signed into law, the bill, sponsored by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), will not make us safer and will not enhance immigration enforcement in any meaningful way. Rather, it will make it harder for those fleeing religious and political persecution to access freedom, put more unlicensed and uninsured drivers on our roads, make it easier for the government to invade our privacy, and exempt the government from labor, environmental, contract, immigration, health, safety, and other laws when constructing border barriers. Tell your Senators to vote NO on the REAL ID Act of 2005.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , I write to you to urge you to oppose Rep. James Sensenbrenner's REAL ID bill. The bill is an unnecessary assault on privacy and the rights of refugees and other immigrants that does very little to enhance the security of our country. The REAL ID bill links state DMV databases together and to Mexico and Canada and creates federal licensing guidelines that may contradict states' own policies. This transforms the driver's license into a de facto national identification card. The bill is also troubling on many other fronts. It includes a measure that allows government officials, contrary to international law, to demand written "corroboration" of asylum claims. It also allows the deportation of lawful permanent residents for providing non-violent, humanitarian support to organizations later labeled as "terrorist" by the government, even where such support was completely legal at the time it was provided. I strongly urge you to oppose this wrong-headed measure.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
The REAL ID Act (H.R. 418) On Feb. 10, 2005 the REAL ID Act (H.R. 418) passed the House of Representatives with a 261 to 161 vote. During the floor debate various amendments were added, significantly changing the original bill. Now that the REAL ID Act passed the House, Judiciary Committee Chair James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) is reportedly seeking to attach it to a supplemental appropriations bill that would fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and Tsunami relief efforts, legislation which must pass both chambers soon. Once the supplemental appropriations bill goes through the House, the Senate will consider the bill. The REAL ID Act:
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