WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- The American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday it is opposed to a House bill requiring written proof of persecution from asylum seekers.
The bill, H.R. 418, or the "REAL ID Act," was introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.
The bill would make it easier to send asylum-seekers back to the countries from which they fleeing if they cannot provide written "corroboration" of their claims, a move contrary to international law, the ACLU said
The ACLU said opposition to the bill comes from across the political spectrum, including the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the oldest and largest Irish-American group; the American Conservative Union; the Free Congress Foundation; the Republican Liberty Caucus; Episcopal Migration Ministries; the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; Human Rights First; Amnesty International; and September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows.
Other provisions in the bill would "lay the foundations for a national ID card," the ACLU said. The organization already has expressed opposition to those provisions.
