Patrick Leahy: “I am dismayed that nearly all of the provisions of the REAL ID Act have been included in this conference report after…”

“I am dismayed that nearly all of the provisions of the REAL ID Act have been included in this conference report after closed-door negotiations between House and Senate Republicans. Democratic conferees were excluded from these negotiations. Indeed, my staff specifically asked the conferees for the majority to be included in negotiations on these far-reaching provisions--which have never received Judiciary Committee consideration--but our request was ignored. I oppose the inclusion of these provisions for a number of reasons. First and foremost, this is not the way we should be legislating comprehensive changes to our immigration laws. The Judiciary Committee never considered them. The Senate never voted on them when the supplemental appropriations bill was being debated. Indeed, Senator Isakson offered an amendment that included the text of REAL ID but then withdrew it, reportedly under pressure from his own leadership. Many of us believed the Senate would vote down the Isakson amendment, especially considering that six Republican Senators had joined six Democratic Senators in writing to the majority leader to oppose including REAL ID in the supplemental appropriations bill. Second, I am concerned that the REAL ID Act will cause great hardship for asylum seekers. In the guise of preventing terrorists from obtaining asylum--which is forbidden under current law--this conference report raises the standard of proof for all asylum seekers.…”