Liberty & Justice Denied: Hidden Traps Within the Senate Immigration Bills

Media Advisory (April 25, 2006): Provisions within the immigration bills that would erode basic rights for everyone in America, while also erecting barriers to legalization, have not yet made significant headlines in the broader debate. It is important to highlight these issues as negotiations continue.

The immigration bills raise serious concerns about civil liberties, due process and the basic implementation of legalization. The harmful provisions would:

1. Provide unchecked powers to the Executive Branch;
2. Result in long-term separation of families;
3. Leave refugees, trafficking victims, and other vulnerable populations unprotected; and
4. Bar thousands of well-intentioned immigrants from legalizing.

Unless these harmful provisions are removed, they will erode core American values of protecting civil liberties and human rights for all.