///Rapid Response 03/11/08
The SAVE Act: UPDATE

In January, a Rapid Response Action Alert was sent regarding the SAVE Act (H.R. 4088 and S. 2368).  Following is updated information about what is happening in the House of Representatives with this "Secure America through Verification and Enforcement Act."  (It was introduced November 15, 2007, by Reps. Shuler (D-NC) and Tancredo (R-CO), along with 139 cosponsors.)

This legislation would negatively impact the following:

Churches and Church Members
The SAVE Act would broaden the definition of "alien smuggler" to include anyone who provides transportation or assistance to an undocumented immigrant. This would impact churches, humanitarian groups, bus drivers, and others who are in no way "smugglers" but simply do not examine immigration status prior to helping people in need.

Asylum Seekers and Children
Asylum seekers would also be defined as "alien smugglers," since The SAVE Act calls for all undocumented persons to be prosecuted for alien smuggling "regardless of any future official action," which would include being granted asylum from persecution. The bill also calls for more asylum seekers, including children, to be imprisoned in detention centers.

Employers, Employees, Taxpayers, Police Officers, Communities
If passed, the SAVE Act would mandate a flawed, inaccurate verification system that would hurt employers and result in the unfair firing of many employees, without any safeguards against racial profiling, misuse, privacy, or error. The bill would also cost taxpayers billions of dollars to build fences and militarize our borders, which has proven ineffective and will do nothing to fix our broken immigration system. Additionally, the SAVE Act would divert local police resources from community safety and force them to act as immigration officers, which could result in racial profiling, unreported crimes, decreased trust in law enforcement, and unsafe communities.

Current Status of the Bill
The sponsors of the bill in the House of Representatives plan to file a discharge petition this week to bring the SAVE act directly to the floor for a vote. Since the procedures are complicated and anything could happen, we are being asked by staff of Church World Service who are working on this issue to call our representative every day and urge him/her to say No to the SAVE Act. For further information see http://capwiz.com/churchworld/go/SAVEAct.

Thank you for your willingness to take action.