Jewish Committee Denounces Inclusion of 'REAL ID Act' Asylum Provisions in Supple

5/11/2005 5:47:00 PM

To: National Desk

Contact: Kenneth Bandler, 212-891-6771 or bandlerk [at] ajc.org, Lisa Fingeret Roth, 212-891-1385 or rothl [at] ajc.org, both of the American Jewish Committee, Web: http://www.ajc.org

WASHINGTON, May 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The American Jewish Committee today applauded Congress for providing additional funding for U.S. military action and the transition to democratic self-governance in Iraq and Afghanistan.

AJC also praised Congress for providing new aid to the Palestinian Authority, relief and reconstruction assistance for victims of last year's tsunami, and funding to help combat the Sudanese-government backed killings and other atrocities in Darfur.

At the same time, AJC sharply criticized immigration provisions, termed "the REAL ID Act," that were included in the final version of the same bill, the supplemental appropriations bill (H.R.1268) that achieved final passage yesterday in Congress.

"We applaud Congress for acting quickly to approve this important piece of legislation, which will provide funding in the fight against terrorism, help sustain those suffering in the aftermath of the tsunami, assist the new Palestinian leadership and fight genocidal actions in Darfur," said Jason Isaacson, director of AJC's Office of Government and International Affairs in Washington, D.C. "Even as we note the crucial difference that funding of the African Union mission in Darfur will make, we call upon Congress to take the next step by enacting the Darfur Accountability Act, which was stripped out of the bill in conference.

"Unfortunately, our praise for this bill is tempered by our recognition of harmful provisions of the 'REAL ID Act,'" Isaacson continued. "Instead of protecting those in greatest need of safe haven, this bill will force legitimate asylum seekers to face an increased danger of deportation back into the hands of those who seek to do them harm. The inclusion of these provisions -- even with some mitigating changes made at the last moment -- is made more regrettable by the adoption of these and other provisions of the REAL ID Act in a precipitous fashion that did not allow deliberative consideration or hearings in either chamber."

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