BACKGROUND
1.The 9/11 Commission made several recommendations on intelligence reform this summer.
2.The House and Senate developed legislation to make many of these recommendations into laws.
3.The House passed a bill [H.R. 10] which contained several anti-immigration provisions [see below] that were NOT recommended by the 9/11 Commission.
4.The Senate passed a bill that did not have these anti-immigrant provisions.
5.Members of the House and Senate met in October and November to try and reconcile the different House and Senate versions of the 9/11 Commission bill.
6.Before Thanksgiving, an agreement was reached; however, a few House Republicans, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, would not agree to the compromise, and have pushed for the inclusion of anti-immigrant provisions.
7.Congress will return on December 6th to vote on the 9/11 Commissions bill. The finalized bill will be sent to the White House.
WHY ACT?
1.There is a possibility that the final bill that is sent to the White House will contain anti-immigrant provisions, as well as measures that could threaten civil liberties. While the 9/11 Commission legislation has gone through many changes over the past three months, some of the alarming provisions that have appeared in its various versions have included measures that would:
-make it difficult for judges to review deportation decisions made against non-citizens
-limit the ability of people to obtain political asylum in the U.S.
-make non-citizens with valid, unexpired visas that are revoked subject to deportation
-remove non-citizens to countries that won’t accept them
2. If the bill becomes law AND contains anti-immigrant provisions, South Asian immigrants and their families may be affected. We continue to hear stories of immigrant families being torn apart since September 11th due to policies that are having a negative impact on South Asians and
other immigrants.
3.It is important to give decision makers in Washington the message that anti-immigrant provisions must be removed from the final 9/11 Commission bill.
YOUR MESSAGE
1.I agree that national security and intelligence reform measures need to be put into place to keep our country safe. I understand that many of these measures are part of the 9/11 Commissions legislation that is under consideration currently. However, I am concerned that anti-immigrant provisions may be added to this legislation that will place a burden on immigrants; tear families of immigrants apart; or make it harder for immigrants to realize their dreams in America.
2.The 9/11 Commission did not recommend any of the anti-immigrant provisions that have been under consideration over the past few months.
3.Congress must remove any anti-immigrant provisions from the legislation.
4.Congress should also take more time to study how increased surveillance and monitoring may infringe upon our civil liberties. Another law that mirrors the Patriot Act will be dangerous for our
community and our country as a whole.
WHOM TO CALL
1.On Thursday, immigrant rights advocates have suggested that people call the following senators [regardless of whether you are one of their constituents]:
Sen. Collins (R-ME): (202) 224-2523
Sen. Lieberman (D-CT):(202) 224-4041
The White House: 202/456-1111
2.Call your own senator and representative.
3. Let SAALT know that you called! Email SAALT with the subject line, “Call-in Day.”
*When you call, let the staff person know that you want to speak with the person working on the “9/11 Commission Recommendations bill.” If you are not able to get a hold of the appropriate staff person, leave a brief message saying that you are calling to ask the member to oppose the anti-immigrant provisions in the bill.
***NOTE: If you cannot call Congress and the White House this week, you can also communicate with them via email or fax. To do so, visit the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium’s website.
[This information has been compiled from alerts developed by the National Immigration Forum and the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium. For further information, please contact SAALT at
[email protected] or at 212/822-9589].
Thanks for this news. I did call up my congresspeople, and provided my full endorsement. I suggest you start packing... your free trip to Pakistan could come at any moment.
Posted by: Joe | December 08, 2004 at 11:42 AM