Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)

Civil libertarians and pro-immigration groups celebrated the defeat of certain measures in the new Intelligence Bill that would have set stricter standards for getting drivers’ licenses.

The Intelligence Operations Reform Bill, or 9/11 Commission Recommendations Implementation Act of 2004, was rooted in several bills introduced by House and Senate Republicans and Democrats and reconciled finally for passing on Dec. 7. The objections of Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) relating to the military chain-of-command were incorporated, but Rep. James Sensenbrenner’s (R-WI) measures relating to drivers licenses and asylum reform were set aside for consideration next year. Rep. Sensenbrenner wanted stricter measures for drivers’ licenses, a measure strongly supported by anti-immigration groups, but opposed equally strongly by civil libertarians. Democrats and most Republicans had opposed Rep. Sensenbrenner’s demands saying they should be considered independent of the intelligence bill.

Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI)

The American Civil Liberties Union has opposed the intelligence overhaul bill on grounds that several provisions expand the federal government’s wiretapping authorities and that drivers’ licenses would be an invasion of privacy. It claims that the “standardizing of drivers’ licenses’ and state identification cards, would create a de facto national ID,” emphasizing that this “cosmetic quick fix would not effectively deter terrorists but would threaten our freedom and our right to privacy by making it easier for the federal government to constantly track our movements.”

The president, in a letter to congressional leaders and intelligence reform conference members, assured legislators like Rep. Sensenbrenner that he had not forgotten the immigration clauses. “I look forward to working with the Congress early in the next session to address these other issues, including improving our asylum laws and standards for issuing driver’s licenses.”