FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 8, 2005

CONTACT: Jesse R. Benton 202-246-6363 (mobile)

New immigration bill contains national ID system

Introduced at last minute, bill would only let Americans hold a job if approved from Homeland Security

WASHINGTON, DC - The Liberty Coalition, a transpartisan network dedicated to defending Americans’ liberties, warned today that a bill being marked up today by the House Judiciary Committee creates a dangerous new national identity database system and firmly establishes the predicate for a new national ID card system.

Title VII of the legislation, called the “Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005” requires that all payroll employees have their social security numbers run through a database at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If DHS computers deem the employee unacceptable, the employer will be fined.

Liberty Coalition’s National Director Michael Ostrolenk said, “Even setting aside concerns of intentional ‘blacklisting’ of innocent Americans, even a small error rate could mean millions of Americans forced out of work by computer mistakes. Homeland Security has a poor record of putting innocent Americans on secretive “no-fly” lists, and should not be entrusted with determining who is allowed is to make a living in this country.”

The Government Accountability Office has estimated the cost of setting up such a system at $11.7 billion. Government programs have a strong propensity for cost overruns, so taxpayers are likely to foot an even heftier bill.

Civil liberties watchdogs are also concerned that, despite a thin rhetorical pretense, this expensive provision contains absolutely no real privacy protections for this employment-verification system.

Another concern with the “Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act” is over provisions that could pave the way for a National ID program. One section of the legislation proclaims that “Nothing in this [bill] shall be construed to authorize, directly or indirectly, the issuance or use of national identification cards,” yet another section directs the Social Security Administration, the Treasury Department and the Department of Justice to submit a report to Congress about creating a machine-readable photo ID based on social security numbers. This action is a clear move towards constructing a National ID program, a concept rejected by most Americans.

“This shameful incongruity in National ID language is a textbook example of Orwellian doublethink,” said Liberty Coalition Policy Director James Plummer. “A real border security law would secure the borders, making this kind of police-state Big Brother tracking of Americans unnecessary. I strongly urge Congress to remove Title VII,”

To arrange an interview with Mr. Ostrolenk or Mr. Plummer, please contact Jesse Benton at 202-246-6363. For more information on The Liberty Coalition, please visit www.libertycoalition.net.