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Bush Signs Iraq Spending Bill With Real ID Act

The Real ID Act is now law. President Bush signed the $82 billion Iraq spending bill today. In addition to the military spending, and $656 million in aid to Indian Ocean countries hurt by the earthquake and tsunamis.

It also prevents states from issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, stiffens asylum laws and provides money to finish a long-stalled fence on the border between California and Mexico.

The ACLU has issued this statement, praising the anti-torture amendment but sharply critical of the immigration provisions.

The act takes us one step closer to a national ID, and a "show us your papers" society, by forcing states to link their databases -- containing every licensed driver’s personal information -- with other states, with no guidelines as to who will have access to that information.

Federal mandates would also determine what forms of identification are needed to obtain state drivers’ licenses, making it possible that law-abiding American citizens who lack certain key documents - like birth certificates and social security numbers, etc. - could be denied licenses. Additionally, state motor vehicle administrators would become de facto immigration officials, as new federal laws would link immigration status with the issuance of drivers’ licenses. A judge with the State Supreme Court in Manhattan ruled yesterday that state motor vehicle authorities may not deny driver's licenses to immigrants who can’t prove their legal status.

The act also goes against international law and allows government officials to demand written "corroboration" from those seeking asylum. For instance, a Chinese woman seeking asylum after being forced to have an abortion could be required to obtain proof of her abuse from the doctors who performed the procedure. In a small victory for immigrants’ rights advocates, the final Real ID Act struck initial language that eliminated stays of removal before the court of appeals.

Additionally, the Real ID Act would waive all state and federal laws to give the Department of Homeland Security unconditional authority to build barriers along the entire border -- placing private property in the hands of federal agents for a "land grab" for national security purposes.

The Real ID Act was passed by the House with no review or hearings. The Senate held no hearings, either.

"The Real ID Act was sold as an illegal-immigration fix bill, when in fact it reduces every American’s freedom," said Timothy Sparapani, an ACLU Legislative Counsel. "At a time when identity theft is rampant, Congress has just made the DMV one-stop shopping for identity thieves."

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    Re: Bush Signs Iraq Spending Bill With Real ID Act (none / 0) (#1)
    by jimcee on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:58 PM EST
    I think the key word here is "illegal". If one is in this country illegally then I can't understand how they could legally qualify for a driver's license that becomes proof-positive for most tranactions in the US. What part of illegal can the ACLU parse. I used to be a contributor to the ACLU but I gave up years ago when they were essencially usurped by litigious anarchisists with a whiff of the '60's formaldihide on their person. There are no Rights for a person here illegally until they have been vetted by the courts or the INS. You come here without checking in then the sheriff will check you out. What legal right is being violated by asking an applicant for positive ID in return for a driver's license anyway?

    Re: Bush Signs Iraq Spending Bill With Real ID Act (none / 0) (#2)
    by Linkmeister on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:58 PM EST
    Digby seems to think this thing is exempt from judicial review. Is that your reading as well?

    I'm with you jimcee. In addition, here in CA, you are asked if you would like register to vote at the DMV when you get your license. However, the ACLU has made it illegal for the DMV employee to ask the holder of the just-issued DL if they are in fact a citizen. Hence many illegal aliens could/are registered to vote. Just doesn't seem right, and this bill would seem to stop it from happening.