FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 9, 2005

Contact: Ben Allen (202) 225-4361

Serrano: Republicans Unrelenting in Pushing Anti-Immigrant Agenda, Talk of Inclusiveness Nothing But Empty Rhetoric

 

Washington, DC
, February 9, 2005—Today, Congressman José E. Serrano (D-NY) expressed dismay at the Republican-dominated Rules Committee’s decision last night to let the so-called “REAL ID Act of 2005” move toward passage.  The Republican-proposed bill would make a number of changes to our immigration laws, including making it more difficult for refugees to prove their asylum claims and imposing federal driver’s license requirements on state governments.  It is anticipated that this bill will be brought up for a vote on the House floor tomorrow.

 

 

“Republicans talk a good game about inclusion and then waste no time in pushing a series of immigrant-bashing measures through the House,” said Serrano.  “This shameful legislation should not be up for consideration.  It tramples on states’ rights, does nothing to make us safer, and picks on some of society’s most vulnerable people.  And by throwing out all laws and regulations related to the construction of a fence on our border, it will roll back a series of vital environmental standards that protect our nation’s border communities.  This is bad legislation through and through, and it is incredible that the Republicans are letting it progress through the House.”

 

 

Last night, the Republican-controlled Rules Committee laid down standards to facilitate the consideration of their anti-immigrant measures on the House floor.  This was despite overwhelming evidence suggesting that the measures do nothing to make our nation safer.

 

 

“That the Republicans invoke the September 11th tragedy to push these anti-immigrant measures particularly pains me as a New Yorker,” continued Serrano.  “Their proposed asylum restrictions, for example, do nothing to protect the nation and unfairly target a group of people who have already suffered much.  Asylees already go through a much more stringent security clearance process than other newcomers.  Terrorists and suspected terrorists, of course, are already barred from asylum.  And let us remember that none of the 9/11 Hijackers were pursuing claims for asylum.

 

 

“The driver’s license measures actually threaten to make our roads less safe while throwing yet another unfunded mandate on the states.  Even if this bill had been in place before the 9/11 attacks, the hijackers would have been able to obtain a driver's license or state-issued ID, because they were all here on legal visas.  The bill is opposed by many in local government and law enforcement because it could prevent undocumented immigrants from entering into in any government database, thus taking away an important tool from law enforcement officials who need to be able to separate otherwise law-abiding undocumented workers from terrorists or criminals. 

 

 

“The other problem with outlawing licenses for undocumented immigrants is that many of them will drive anyway.  The situation could lead to more unqualified drivers on the road (drivers who haven’t taken the usual driver’s license tests), more hit-and-run accidents, and drivers less likely to seek automobile insurance.

 

 

“Lastly, the measures related to eliminating all laws restricting the construction of a barrier along the border are written so broadly so as to threaten to roll back crucial environmental protections in the border region.

 

 

“This bill is wrong for national security, wrong for immigrants, wrong for our environment, wrong for states’ rights, and wrong for basic American values of fairness and justice.  That they are pushing these measures shows that the Republicans’ commitment to inclusiveness is nothing but empty rhetoric.  I will fight this legislation with all my strength.”

 

 

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Congressman José E. Serrano has represented the
Bronx
in Congress since 1990.  He is the only Member of Congress from New York City on the House Appropriations Committee and serves as the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Commerce, Justice, and State Departments and the Federal Judiciary, as well as the FBI, DEA, SBA, and Census Bureau.  A member of the Democratic Party leadership, he serves as Vice-Chair of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.