GOP Immigration Bill Includes National ID Language

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Richard Forno <rforno () infowarrior org>
Date: December 9, 2005 7:58:01 AM EST
To: Blaster <rforno () infowarrior org>
Cc: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: GOP Immigration Bill Includes National ID Language

GOP Immigration Bill Includes National ID Language

by Robert B. Bluey
Posted Dec 8, 2005

http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?print=yes&id=10753

An immigration reform bill moving quickly through the U.S. House of
Representatives contains language requiring the Social Security
Administration, Treasury Department and Department of Justice to  
study the
concept of a machine-readable Social Security card with a photo ID.

The House Judiciary Committee approved the legislation (H.R. 4437),
sponsored by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R.-Wis.), on a party-line  
23-15 vote
Thursday. Next week the House is set to vote on the bill, which calls  
for
mandatory verification of employees’ legal status and increases  
enforcement
along the Mexican border.

But language about the machine-readable Social Security cards has  
alarmed
civil libertarians who fear it could lead to a national ID card for all
Americans.

Language in the bill requires the Social Security Administration,  
Treasury
Department and Department of Justice to submit a report to Congress nine
months after the bill’s enactment that explores the idea of “Social  
Security
cards that are made of a durable plastic or similar material and that
include an encrypted, machine-readable electronic identification  
strip and a
digital photograph of the individual to whom the card is issued.”

The cards would be issued to both U.S. citizens and non-citizens who are
employed or seeking employment and applicants for new Social Security  
cards
or new Social Security numbers. The report requires an examination of  
the
feasibility for employers to use the machine-readable cards to  
identify an
employee’s eligibility for hire based on a “unified database”  
maintained by
the Department of Homeland Security.

Civil libertarians attacked the bill Thursday.

“This shameful incongruity in national ID language is a textbook  
example of
Orwellian doublethink,” said Liberty Coalition National Director Michael
Ostrolenk. “A real border security law would secure the borders,  
making this
kind of police-state Big Brother tracking of Americans unnecessary. I
strongly urge Congress to remove this section.”

While the Liberty Coalition expressed concern about the government’s
studying the concept of a machine-readable Social Security card, it also
criticized language that would require employers to start verifying job
applicants’ legal status -- a provision that has the support of  
conservative
Republicans seeking to crack down on employment of illegal aliens.

The illegal alien verification system, to be maintained by the  
Department of
Homeland Security, would offer employers a toll-free telephone number to
check an employee’s status as a U.S. citizen. Within three days,  
employers
would have an answer from the government.

“Even setting aside concerns of intentional ‘blacklisting’ of innocent
Americans, even a small error rate could mean millions of Americans  
forced
out of work by computer mistakes,” said Liberty Coalition Policy  
Director
James Plummer. “Homeland Security has a poor record of putting innocent
Americans on secretive “no-fly” lists, and should not be entrusted with
determining who is allowed is to make a living in this country.”
Copyright © 2005 HUMAN EVENTS. All Rights Reserved.




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