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Proposed Changes Would Crack Down On Terrorist Travel

Date: Jan. 27, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: National Security Immigration


Proposed Changes Would Crack Down On Terrorist Travel
1/27/2005

Capito among the First to Pledge Her Support for New Protections

WASHINGTON, DC (1/27) Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) has put her support behind efforts that will fortify and strengthen immigration laws and make it more difficult for a foreigner to illegitimately obtain a drivers license.

"9-11 Terrorist Mohammed Atta received a 6-month visa to stay in the U.S. yet received a Florida drivers license good for six years!" noted Capito. "Terrorists take advantage of gaps in our immigration laws using drivers licenses as a form of ID after their visa has expired. These reforms would set the expiration date of temporary drivers licenses for foreign visitors to expire the same day their visa expires on top of establishing tough rules for confirming someones identity before the license is even issued."

"The 9-11 Commission Report told us the 19 terrorists who carried out the attacks carried with them over 13 drivers licenses and 21 ID cards. The Real ID Act calls for stronger security standards to be put in place for issuing drivers licenses including requiring a foreign visitor to produce proof of their lawful presence in the U.S., ensuring all states comply preventing weak security links, and establishing tough physical security requirements to reduce counterfeiting."

Capito added, "Right now it is more difficult to deport a suspected terrorists then it is to keep them out of the country in the first place. The Real ID Act will make it easier to keep terrorists off U.S. soil by ensuring deportation is always an option. The legislation would also allow immigration judges to determine witness credibility in an asylum case."

The Real ID Act (H.R.418,) introduced yesterday by Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), has the support of 115 co-sponsors including Capito. The reforms could be taken up by the full House as early as February.

http://capito.house.gov/press_office/detail-page.aspx?id=47&whichone=pr

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