Republican Congressman Proposes Bill that Would Permit Suspension of All Laws

[Note 2005/02/11: REAL ID passed the House, largely on party lines. <http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/021105X.shtml>]

Section 102 of the REAL ID Act of 2005 (H.R. 418), submitted by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner on January 26, 2005, ostensibly to deal with immigration regulations, driver's licenses, and other matters having to do with using identity to control people, would empower the Secretary of Homeland Security, as part of the effort to keep illegal aliens out of the country, to suspend any laws that prevent or delay the "expeditious" construction of a set of barriers and roads south of San Diego.

The bill also would prohibit judicial review of the secretary's decisions to suspend laws. While the legislation refers to barriers and roads "near" San Diego," (is L.A. "near" San Diego?), it does not appear to be limited, technically speaking, to that area -- but to any barriers or roads "in the vicinity of the United States border" (33 states, plus Guam and Puerto Rico, are on the border of the United States).

It could be called to the floor as early as next week. -- reported on Daily Kos <http://dailykos.com/story/2005/2/5/15448/41910>