October 11, 2004

House Passes Legislation with Anti-Immigrant Provisions

The House passed H.R. 10, titled, "9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act" and attached several immigration-related amendments to the bill that were not actually included in the 9/11 report. Some of the more disturbing provisions include: (1) a broader interpretation of expedited removal without an opportunity for review, (2) changes in asylum eligibility, (3) additional federal restrictions for noncitizens seeking to obtain driver’s licenses, (4) new mandatory detention provisions for certain foreign nationals, (5) the abolition of temporary stays for aliens whose removal cases are pending, and (6) provisions to deport individuals to countries without functioning governments. There were several attempts by members of Congress to alter the bill. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), for example, attempted to remove two of the more significant measures of the bill without success. These immigration provisions without changes to the current legal immigration system will only serve to further complicate an already broken and ineffective system.

The Senate and the House will now meet in conference to reconcile their differences.