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| Analysis: 'Real ID Act' scrutinized |
| 2005-05-11 |
| Immigration and civil liberties groups call the "Real ID Act" that would impose federal requirements on state-issued driver's licenses an attack on refugees and asylum-seekers, but supporters say it will make U.S. borders safer. The House last week overwhelmingly passed the measure 368 to 58 as part a "must-pass" $82 billion Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill expected to be approved by the Senate this week. President George W. Bush supports the legislation, which includes nearly $76 million for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and funds for anti-terrorism and tsunami relief. Such a package is difficult for Congress members to vote against. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., R-Wis., the House sponsor, says the "Real ID Act" which requires states to verify four documents before issuing a driver's license, would strengthen border security. The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups contend the bill is about more than IDs that are difficult to fake. They call the act a crackdown on immigration that rolls back asylum laws and a prelude to a national identification card. States would have three years to enact changes requiring applicants for a driver's license to prove they are in the country lawfully to receive a license accepted as a form of federal identification. A state could issue a second-tier license clearly marked not valid for federal identification purposes good for up to one year. Temporary driver's licenses issued to foreign visitors would expire when the visitor's visa expired with a maximum term of one year. States would have to retain paper copies of identity documents for seven years and digital copies for 10 years. "This sensible legislation is aimed at preventing another 9/11-type attack by disrupting terrorist travel and bolstering our border security," said Sensenbrenner. "Now more than ever, drivers' licenses can be accepted as identification for federal purposes, such as boarding a commercial airplane, entering a federal building or a nuclear power plant. Giving state drivers' licenses to anyone, regardless of whether they are here legally or illegally, is an open invitation for terrorists and criminals to exploit." Supporters say all the federal law does is require states to vouch for the authenticity of the person presenting a driver's license: that they are who they claim to be. Backers say the law won't prevent all forgeries but it will make it harder to make and use phony IDs. |
| Posted by:Thineling Flomoper5900 |
| #5 By the Central Scrutinizer? Great FZ reference, Mojo. Overnite Sensation's on deck... |
| Posted by: Raj 2005-05-11 22:35 |
| #4 Didn't we wear out this topic on Tuesday? http://rantburg.com/poparticle.php?HC=1&D=2005-05-10&ID=118834 And on Sunday: http://rantburg.com/poparticle.php?HC=1&D=2005-05-08&ID=118651 And on Saturday: http://rantburg.com/poparticle.asp?HC=&D=5/7/2005&ID=118549 Anonymoose, have you disguised yourself as Thineling Flomoper5900? |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-05-11 10:36 |
| #3 "Scrutinized", hardly the word I would use to just show what proponents of the bill call its advantages, without examining its serious drawbacks. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-05-11 10:31 |
| #2 By the Central Scrutinizer? |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-05-11 10:19 |
| #1 Article: The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups contend the bill is about more than IDs that are difficult to fake. They call the act a crackdown on immigration that rolls back asylum laws and a prelude to a national identification card. The ACLU doesn't like it. That's good enough for me. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-05-11 00:05 |