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From: Aliza Becker <azbecker@mindspring.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-ESL:6438] FW: Talking Points on Immigration Policy in Response to Events of
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------ Forwarded Message
From: "Mbelanger" <mbelanger@immigrationforum.org>
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 19:10:11 -0400
To: <mbelanger@immigrationforum.org>
Subject: Talking Points on Immigration Policy in Response to Events of
September 11
National Immigration Forum
To: Forum Associates and interested advocates
From: Frank Sharry
-----------------------------------------------
DRAFT TALKING POINTS FOR IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES
SPEAKING ON IMMIGRATION POLICY ISSUES
September 18, 2001
As the nation debates how to change policies and practices to deal with
the threat of terrorism, immigrant advocates are being asked for our
views on what the events of September 11th mean for immigration policy
in the future. These draft talking points may serve as a guide. As
specific proposals are developed, both by advocates and by policymakers,
we will be updating these as needed.
These talking points were drafted by the National Immigration Forum,
with input from the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and some
factual information provided by Prof. David Cole of Georgetown
University. However, the Forum is responsible for the content.
We urge all advocates to participate responsibly in the debate over how
to defeat terrorism in a way that works and in a way that preserves our
most precious values. Please feel free to contact us as we move
forward.
---------------------------------------------
TESTING THE RESOLVE OF WHO WE ARE AS A NATION
We stand with so many of our leaders who have spoken out so eloquently
in recent days on how we can and must improve and protect our nation’s
security and do so without handing the terrorists a victory by
overreacting and undermining the freedoms and diversity so central to
our nation’s identity.
Instead of isolating America, we need to isolate terrorism. Instead of
walling ourselves off from the rest of the world, we need to stand
strong in defense of the values of freedom and openness. Instead of
shrinking in fear and turning on each other, we need to forge unity out
of our diversity and show our enemies what America is all about.
As we ask ourselves how to prevent and deter terrorism, we will also be
asking ourselves who we are as a nation. This domestic front is every
bit as important as the military, diplomatic, and economic front. This
is a battle for America’s soul.
We must not repeat some of our history’s most painful chapters, such as
in the World War II era when we rounded up and interned loyal Japanese
Americans and turned our back on refugees from the Holocaust.
Given the strong leadership the nation has received from political,
religious, and community leaders, we are confident that the American
people will rise to the challenge, strengthen our commitment to freedom
and diversity, and defend our tradition as a nation of immigrants and a
beacon of hope for those seeking the liberty and safety of this great
nation. Indeed, this is nothing less than a historic opportunity to
strike a blow for freedom and against our enemies.
RECOGNIZING THAT "IMMIGRANTS ARE US"
Immigrants in the United States have suffered as victims of this vicious
attack, have been heroic in the rescue and recovery efforts, and, like
all Americans, are shocked, saddened, and angered by the vicious attacks
of September 11th.
Immigrants from every part of the world and from across the country have
held vigils and helped out with money, time, blood, and support. These
expressions of unity from Americans of diverse backgrounds have been
inspiring and reaffirming. Americans of every race, religion,
ethnicity, and religion have come together like never before. It is a
powerful statement of who we are as a nation and who immigrants are as
proud Americans.
Immigrants are Americans by choice. They voted with their feet to be
here. They have a keen appreciation for the preciousness of freedom,
and many have a personal experience of what it is like to be deprived of
freedom.
This is just one more reason why the attacks against those who appear to
be Arab American or Muslim are wrong. When misguided Americans turn on
their fellow Americans, they hand the terrorists a victory. We will
continue to join with our political, religious, community, and law
enforcement leaders to condemn, prevent, and eradicate hate crimes
against neighbors and friends.
IMMIGRATION AND THE BATTLE AGAINST TERRORISM
Those of us with expertise in immigration policy are committed to
actively contributing to the national discussion of how to improve
immigration policy and practice so that we can strengthen our nation’s
ability to identify and apprehend terrorists before they strike. We are
considering and developing a number of proposals.
The facts matter, and it is evident that we need better human
intelligence to identify terrorists; better international coordination
to collect and share that intelligence; better use of technology at
embassies, consulates, airports, and inspection gates for identifying
and apprehending those who fly into North America for the purpose of
staging terrorist operations; and closer inspection of those who enter
the United States, especially of those who enter on tourist and business
visas. (Those coming to the U.S. permanently are subjected to extensive
security checks before being issued their visas.)
With respect to visitors, tourists, and immigrants already here, the
federal government has a broad range of enforcement tools, and in this
time of emergency, we are seeing this authority being put to use.
• The INS may detain without bond any alien with a status
violation if it has reason to believe that he poses a threat to national
security or a risk of flight, and may do so on the basis of secret
evidence.
• It may deny entry to any alien it has reason to believe may
engage in any unlawful activity in the United States, and to any member
of a designated terrorist group.
• It may deport any alien who has engaged in terrorist activity,
or supported terrorist activity in any way. Terrorist activity is
defined under existing law very broadly, to include the use or threat to
use a firearm with intent to endanger person or property, and any
provision of support for such activity. The INS may use secret evidence
to establish deportability on terrorist activity grounds.
• In addition, existing laws allows for the activation of an Alien
Terrorist Removal Court, a special court which will attempt to balance
the need to protect sources and the rights of defendants to have a fair
trial.
The federal government has a great deal of authority under current law,
and the most immediate challenge is to execute this federal authority
effectively. If there is a need to expand that authority, we are
willing to participate in the discussion over how to craft these
measures in a way that actually works. But, we should be careful not to
cross the lines of freedom, and impose policies that undermine our
constitutional principles or tars entire groups with a broad brush.
Furthermore, we should keep in mind that immigration is a relatively
small part of what it will take to defeat terrorism. As experts have
pointed out, the best way to do so is to improve our global intelligence
capacity (especially human intelligence, of which immigrant Americans
with linguistic skills and cultural familiarity can make an important
contribution), work with other nations in a global alliance against
terrorism, and to disrupt terrorist networks by putting them on the
defensive.
And, while we need to fight terrorism effectively, we should do so
without building walls that undermine our fundamental openness. If we
undermine or compromise our values, then those who are attacking us will
win. We are hopeful and confident that those of us who stand for what
is best about America will prevail over those who would run in fear and
fall prey to our worst instincts at a moment of national trial.
WHAT ABOUT THE AGENDA THAT WAS ON THE TABLE, U.S. MEXICO, ETC. AND WHAT
ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A BACKLASH GENERALLY?
Like so many other issues that were pressing before September 11th,
these discussions are on hold. Given the uncertainty, it would be
foolish to predict what will happen in the future on these issues. This
is not unlike other issues, from the patients bill of rights to social
security reform.
Sometime in the future, we will get back to the nation’s business. For
now, the nation’s business is to defend our nation and our values.
==============================
Maurice Belanger
Senior Policy Associate
National Immigration Forum
mbelanger@immigrationforum.org
http://www.immigrationforum.org
------ End of Forwarded Message
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