RESOLUTION

 Whereas, in the wake of 9/11, Congress passed a number of laws, including the USA PATRIOT Act, violating basic civil liberties as a consequence. 

 Whereas, these and other measures do not enhance national security; rather, they violate our tradition of due process, alienate immigrant communities, and undermine U.S. efforts to promote democracy, human rights, and the law abroad.

 Whereas, the Civil Liberties Restoration Act (CLRA) was introduced in Congress as H.R. 4591 and S. 2528 on June 16, 2004 and would:

  Ø     End the government’s ability to issue a blanket order closing all removal (deportation) hearings to the public and to family members of detainees, while   permitting the closure of hearings or a portion of hearings on a case-by-case basis to preserve the confidentiality of asylum applications or when national security interests so require.

Ø     Provide minimum due process safeguards to individuals who are jailed on suspicion of immigration violations by giving them timely notice of the charges against them and assure that immigration authorities and judges make fair, individualized bond determinations.

Ø     Establish an independent immigration court within the Department of Justice and promote fair hearings by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal.

Ø     Facilitate better law enforcement practices by requiring that the National Crime Information Center database relied upon daily by state and local law enforcement complies with minimum accuracy requirements.

Ø     Terminate the troubled National Security Entry-Exit Registration System while encouraging fairness and a concentrated focus on those who pose a threat to the national security or safety of Americans.

Ø     Assign reasonable penalties, commensurate to the technical nature of the violations, for non-citizens’ failure to register or provide timely notification of address changes.

Ø     Ensure that people who are charged with a crime based upon national security surveillance will see the evidence against them in the same manner as people charged with a crime based upon other kinds of classified information.

Ø     Require the government to submit a public report to Congress on data-mining activities in order to protect the privacy and due process rights of individuals and to ensure accurate information is collected and used.

Ø     Amend the USA PATRIOT Act to limit the secret seizure of private databases and individual records to cases where the government has shown there is a reasonable connection to a suspected terrorist or terrorist group.

 Be it resolved that:  The National Organization of Legal Services Workers, Local 2320, UAW supports the CLRA because it promotes the integrity of the American system of justice and reaffirms our commitment to core constitutional values.  The CLRA moves the United States forward at this important time with a clear understanding that upholding basic rights and the rule of law is essential to our long-term success in countering terrorism and creating a safer and more stable world.

Sponsored by: Alicia Carvajal, Laurel Blankinship, Diego Bonesatti, Jeff Segal, and Elisabeth Fiekowsky.

Adopted by National Joint Council - June 23, 2004