24237: NCHR (political) Oppose the REAL ID act now (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: NCHR <info@nchr.org>

Urge your Congressional Representative to vote no on the REAL ID
Act.

Haitian refugees seeking asylum in the US have been treated
worse than criminals. If the REAL ID Act becomes law, they will
be treated even worse than before. Congress is expected to vote
soon on the REAL ID Act, introduced by House Judiciary Committee
Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) on January 26, 2005.
According to Human Rights First, if enacted, The REAL ID Act
will:
* Place refugees at an increased risk of persecution and;
* Erode this country's historic commitment to protect those
seeking safe haven.
A report released today by the bi-partisan U.S. Commission on
International Religious Freedom at the request of Congress
documents a number of serious failings in U.S. treatment of
asylum seekers and shows how hard it already is for refugees who
flee from religious and other persecution to receive asylum in
this country. The REAL ID Act would further increase the already
significant burdens facing refugees who seek asylum here.

You can take action on this alert either via email (please see
directions below) or via the web at:
http://ga4.org/campaign/real_id/g5dkk6roj855b8

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
http://ga4.org/campaign/real_id/forward/g5dkk6roj855b8

We encourage you to take action by February 15, 2005

Oppose the Real ID Act

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this
alert by going to the following URL:

http://ga4.org/campaign/real_id/g5dkk6roj855b8

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA EMAIL:
Just choose the "reply to sender" option on your email program.

Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
Your Congressperson

----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME----
Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

PLEASE VOTE NO ON THE REAL ID ACT. I am concerned that the REAL
ID Act will make it nearly impossible for Haitians and other
refugees seeking asylum in the US to be judged on the merits of
their claims. The bi-partisan US Commission on International
Religious Freedom has documented serious failings in the system,
in particular the harshness used by immigration inspectors to
deny entry to asylum-seekers. Last November, Haitian Baptist
Minister Joseph Dantica became a victim of the unforgiving
system and died in immigration custody. The REAL ID Act would
turn the US from a place of refuge to an active accomplice in
the persecution of asylum-seekers. I urge you to oppose the REAL
ID Act for it does little to enhance national security, but goes
far in punishing people whose only wish is to live free of fear
and persecution.