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Wednesday, February 09, 2005

More on HR 418 

More on HR 418, expected to pass the house tomorrow. It's going to have trouble in the senate, thanks to those senators who still give a rat's ass about the constitution. From Raw Story:

The House Democratic staff of the Judiciary Committee is preparing an extensive rebuke to a Republican immigration bill which would allow the Homeland Security Secretary to waive all laws in the construction of immigration barriers, RAW STORY has learned.


Among other provisions, the bill put forth by Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner would give the Homeland Security Secretary “the authority to waive… all laws such Secretary, in such Secretary’s sole discretion, determines necessary to ensure expeditious construction of the barriers and roads under this section.”


The bill also seeks to strip courts from being able to challenge any of the Secretary’s decisions.


“Notwithstanding any other provision of law… no court shall have jurisdiction,” the Republican bill asserts.


The immigration bill would allow Homeland Security to construct barriers along American borders and inside the United States. It would also give the Secretary the authority to ignore labor and environmental laws, as well as refuse compensation for property seized in the construction of such barriers.


The bill also denies immigrants habeas corpus rights and makes it harder for immigrants to achieve asylum. Senior aides in the House expect the bill to pass without significant amendments Thursday.


Democrats find these provisions troubling.


In their report, the Democratic Judiciary staff say the bill is a draconian overreaction to immigration concerns.


# posted by scorpiorising : 6:49 PM |

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