Lincoln Davis Leading on Homeland Security Bill Calling for Immigration ReformFebruary 04, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, along with U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN-04), has introduced the Real ID Act. The bill, H.R. 418, contains terrorist travel provisions left off the 9/11 Commission Implementation Act, enacted in the previous Congress.

Davis said, "We need to fill the cracks and tighten the loopholes in our immigration laws that could let terrorists slip by and threaten our safety and security. This bill makes great strides for immigration reform and improved homeland security."

"Why stop short of fulfilling our promise to protect America's citizens," said Davis. "The Congress needs to finish what we initially set out to do by better securing our borders and country from those who wish to harm us by taking advantage of gapping holes in our homeland security policy."

The Real ID Act addresses three issues of grave importance to ensuring our security. The first of which tackles the issue of drivers' licenses as a form of identification to a federal official. This will not super cede or set state policy for who may or may not drive a car. It will, however, establish a uniform rule for all states that temporary drivers' licenses for foreign visitors will expire when their visa terms expire, and it will establish tough rules for confirming identity before temporary drivers' licenses are issued.

Perhaps more importantly is the issue of asylum, which has been exploited and will continue to be exploited by terrorists till certain loop holes are closed. Our government is hog tied by being barred from asking foreign governments what evidence they have about the terrorist activities of asylum applicants. Knowing this, terrorists seek asylum, while plotting their heinous acts of crime. Most notable, Mir Aimal Kansi murdered two CIA employees and Ramzi Yousef masterminded the first World Trade Center attack while free after applying for asylum.

In 1996, Congress required the building of a fourteen mile border fence inland from the Pacific Ocean in San Diego. The goal was to secure one of the most trafficked corridors in the country and to safeguard the U.S. Naval Base in San Diego. With the fence still not completed after eight years, this provision will ensure the expeditious completion of this proven deterrent.

"When it comes to homeland security," Davis said, "we have no choice but to be proactive and solve problems with our immigration policy before other extremists slip through the cracks again."

"Terrorists have taken advantage of the freedoms in our country to try to terrorize our citizens. We must make common sense changes that preserve our freedoms and protect our citizens."