Letter to House of Representatives From The Ancient Order Of Hibernians In America Urging Opposition To HR 418, The "REAL ID" Bill

Letter to House of Representatives From The Ancient Order Of Hibernians In America Urging Opposition To HR 418, The “REAL ID” Bill

House of Representatives
Washington, DC

Dear Representative,

On behalf of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the oldest and largest Irish-American organization in the nation, we write to urge you to oppose Representative Jim Sensenbrenner’s REAL ID bill, H.R. 418. This bill includes an unnecessary assault on the rights of Irish lawful permanent residents and their political speech and does very little to enhance the security of our country.

You will recall that we opposed similar provisions when they surfaced in the House version of last year’s intelligence reform bill, H.R.10. We stand opposed to them again as they represent a direct threat to the Irish in America who have supported freedom for all Ireland since the birth of the United States in 1776.

Under the REAL ID bill, Irish immigrants as well as others, including lawful permanent residents, would be deportable for pure speech, for saying anything the government says “”endorses”” terrorist activity or “”endorses”” support for an organization called a terrorist organization by the government. These definitions are also made retroactive. Thus, an Irish lawful permanent resident that defends the rights of the Irish Republican Army (on cease-fire for 10 years) or who had donated money to Irish Republican causes, even decades ago, could be deported. Terrorism is defined simply as the use of a weapon. This is a dangerous standard of guilt by association, rendering a person deportable for lawful and peaceful activity if he or she supported any group that has engaged in the use of weapons at any time, or has threatened to use weapons.

These same provisions could be used against those who supported Nelson Mandela, the African National Congress and freedom movements in South Africa. Similarly, Americans who support the right of Israeli settler organizations to use weapons in self-defense could similarly be deported for their speech and contributions.

The bill is particularly troubling to us because it would make entirely legal donations, even donations made decades ago for humanitarian purposes, a ground of deportation if the organization to which a donation was made is later regarded as meeting the definition of a terrorist organization. This would be the case even if the organization is never added to a government terrorist list. This is extremely troubling because the definition of terrorism has been expanded so broadly that it could wrongly encompass much of the Irish Republican movement and thus implicate those who have made humanitarian donations to it over the years.

Finally, we also strongly oppose the provision in the bill that would require asylum-seekers to produce documents corroborating their persecution or torture – issued by the persecutors or torturers themselves. For centuries the British government has been carrying out human rights abuses in Ireland, and for centuries the Irish have been fleeing British persecution and finding safe haven in America. But under the REAL ID bill, an Irish person fleeing the north of Ireland because of Loyalist paramilitary assaults on his home and his family, could be required to rely on the British government (who has for years been supplying weapons to these loyalist paramilitaries) for documents to corroborate that claim. Similarly, an Iraqi fleeing persecution under Saddam Hussein’s regime and seeking a better life in America, would have had to rely on the Hussein regime’s willingness to provide documents needed to prove that persecution. And a Christian fleeing Darfur would have to call on the government in Khartoum for documentation corroborating the crimes of the Janjaweed militia. Would a Jewish refugee, fleeing concentration camps in the 1930’s, be asking the Nazi’s for evidence?

As a Catholic organization, we join with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in opposing the REAL ID bill. We also stand with the many of the families of the 9-11 victims who have opposed this bill because they don’t want their loss to be used to take away cherished democratic rights.

For centuries Irish immigrants and others have come over to the US, either fleeing persecution or looking for new opportunity. Tens of millions of Irish immigrants as well as other ethnic groups helped build this country, voiced political opinions, and contributed to our democracy. We must not pass any legislation infringing on their ability to continue their contribution. HR 418 would close Americas doors to those who need us the most and it would shut down long cherished avenues of democratic political participation. We urge you to oppose the REAL ID bill and to preserve our cherished freedoms.

Yours Sincerely,

Ned McGinley
National President Ancient Order of Hibernians in America