Speech #1090138995

This legislation is far from perfect. The underlying legislation already contained unnecessarily punitive provisions. provisions that have been retained. During Senate consideration of the bill our bipartisan majority successfully beat back many measures that would have gutted the bill or unfairly punished immigrants. although I was disappointed by several of the votes on the Senate floor. One example was the adoption of an amendment offered by Senator INHOFE which would undermine efforts to provide services for nonEnglish speakers in a wide variety of essential governmental functions. I was also disappointed by a setback Senator BROWNBACK and I suffered in our attempt to improve our nations treatment of asylum seekers. In February of 2005. the congressionally established U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a report that raised serious concerns about insufficient protections for asylum seekers arriving in this country. The problems raised by the Commissions report should shock us. given our nations historic mission as a bastion for those fleeing persecution in their home country. The Commission found an unacceptable risk that genuine asylum seekers were being returned to their home countries where they faced repression and worse. This was occurring because aliens stopped at our airports and borders were not properly questioned about the dangers they would face if they were sent back. This failure to follow procedures required by law resulted in the inability of asylum seekers to plead their case. The Commission also found that while asylum seekers are having their applications considered. they were often detained for months in maximumsecurity prisons and jails. without ever having a chance to appear before an immigration judge to request bail. While being held. some were subjected to mistreatment or arbitrary punishments. including solitary confinement and the denial of basic medical needs. This kind of treatment of people trying to escape war. oppressioneven tortureis unacceptable in America. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees has repeatedly criticized our detention of asylum seekers as inconsistent with U.S. treaty obligations. Since the Commissions report was issued more than a year ago. I have routinely asked officials from the Department of Homeland Security what is being done about the problems the Commission identified.