04 October 2004	Monday	18 Shaban 1425

WASHINGTON, Oct 3: A new law being pushed through the US Congress by the ruling Republican Party targets immigrants, not terrorists, says the National Immigration Forum, a Washington-based advocacy group.

Other immigration and civil rights advocacy groups - such as the National Council for Pakistani Americans, the Arab American Institute and an advocacy group for Iranian Americans - also have expressed concerns about the bill.

"The House Republican Leadership's bill being marked up in the Judiciary Committee and other committees is a disaster," says Angela Kelley, deputy director for the National Immigration Forum.

"The bill recycles an anti-immigration wish list from the anti-immigrant wing of the Republican Party and attempts to wrap up this partisan agenda in the bipartisan recommendations of the 9-11 Commission," said Ms Kelley.

Other critics said the House Republican leadership is undermining US efforts to fight terrorism by attempting to disguise harsh proposals targeting immigrants and ethnic communities under the cover of anti-terrorism.

"Such moves increase the sense of insecurity that the immigrants already suffer from. The need is to integrate the immigrants in the American society, not to alienate them," said an NCPA statement.

An Arab group for the protection immigrants' rights pointed out that the bill will hurt the Republican Party by unnecessarily annoying the immigrants so close to the elections. "It is an irresponsible indulgence that will make us less safe and could cost the country dearly," said Ms Kelley.

Advocacy groups urged the Bush administration instead to consider the proposals an independent commission probing the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks had suggested for fighting terrorism, including a suggestion to improve the administration's relations with immigrant communities, particularly the Muslims.

"We applaud the commission's thoughtful and balanced approach to immigration policy and urge the House Republican leadership to heed the 9/11 Commission's wisdom," said Ms Kelley.

The commission had urged that the US borders and immigration system, including law enforcement, ought to send a message of welcome, tolerance, and justice to members of immigrant communities in the United States and in their countries of origin.

In contrast, the House Leadership proposal betrays the partisan nature of that legislative body and the desire of some in the Republican Party to use the 9-11 Commission as cover for their anti-immigration agenda, said Ms Kelley.

Under pressure from immigrants' groups, the bill's authors had backed off some of their earlier proposals, such as drafting all local police into enforcing federal civil immigration statutes. But the suggestions included in the bill would still erode civil rights, restrict legal immigration, do away with due process, and expedite the deportation of long-time immigrants, said Ms Kelley.

Immigrant groups are particularly concerned about one proposal aimed to expedite the deportation of any immigrant suspected of entering the country illegally within the last five years. "If passed, these 'drive-by deportations,' will seriously erode any pretense of allowing immigrants a day in court and a chance to defend themselves," said Ms Kelley.

She said that the bill can lead to the deportation of millions of immigrant families by immigration agents rather than immigration judges. "Such moves can shock and terrify immigrant communities as they find themselves targeted by a new backlash," said the NCPA.

The group urged the Bush administration to respect the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, which advocates winning the war against terror by taking along the immigrant communities, not alienating them.

Ms Kelley recalled that the 9/11 Commission had suggested that US laws should demonstrate "a visible manifestation of our belief in freedom, democracy, global economic growth, and the rule of law, yet serve equally well as a vital element of counter terrorism."

The administration's aim should be to "win the war on terrorism, not to wage a war on America's newcomers," said Ms Kelley. We will evaluate legislation carefully against the yardstick set forth by the 9-11 Commission," she added.