The “Real ID Act”, passed by the Senate late yesterday as part of the emergency spending bill, was signed into law today by President Bush. It contains provisions that will severely harm asylum seekers fleeing political and religious persecution.
“This new law is yet another blow to America’s tradition of providing refuge to victims of persecution,” said Eleanor Acer, Director of the Asylum Program at Human Rights First. “This country is turning its back on its longstanding commitment to protect those who flee to its shores ‘yearning to breathe free.’ Instead, we are sending a clear message that America is no longer a safe haven for those who stand up to oppression.”
Under REAL ID, a victim of torture or religious persecution at risk of being returned to his persecutors because he mistakenly recalls the date of his high school graduation. A rape survivor or a victim of a forced abortion could be denied asylum because she was too traumatized to tell an airport inspector about her ordeal when she first arrives in the United States.
Human Rights First, which played a lead role in the fight against REAL ID’s asylum provisions. “We will continue to work with the many organizations and Members of Congress who have worked so hard to ensure that the United States lives up to its proud tradition of protecting the persecuted, said Cory Smith, Legislative Counsel at Human Rights First. “The work of groups like the National Association of Evangelicals, Southern Baptist Convention, and Anti-Defamation League resulted in some of the worst provisions being scaled back,” added Smith. For details on the coalition and its achievements go to:
www.humanrightsfirst.org/Real_ID
Background
The new law comes at a time when asylum applicants in the United States already face increased difficulties. The rate at which refugees have been granted asylum has dropped from about 43 percent to 29 percent over the past three years. The United States received 48 percent fewer asylum requests in 2004 than in 2001. And the approval of asylum appeals has also plummeted as a result of controversial changes at the immigration appeals board.
“REAL ID takes an already precarious situation for many refugees and threatens to make it far worse,” added Acer.
