Pennsylvania NOW, Inc.

PO Box 68 Bellefonte, PA 16823-0068 Email: panow@panow.org website: http://www.panow.org Phone: 814-280-8571 Fax: 814-355-3057

8/22/2011 SusanBoyle RepublicanHouseCommitteeLegislativeStaff 41BEastWing CapitalBuilding Harrisburg,PA17120 (sboyle@pahousegop.com)

DearMs.Boyle: Wearewritingonbehalfoftheapproximately14,000duespayingmembersandcontributorstothe NationalOrganizationforWomeninPennsylvania.PennsylvaniaNOW,Inc.isthestatewidechapter thatworkstobringaboutfullequalrightsforallwomen.Wearewritingyoutoexpressouropposition toseveraloftheantiimmigrationbillsbeforetheHouseofRepresentativesthatwillbeheardduringthis hearingonAugust30.Weunderstandthatthefollowingbillsarelikelytobecoveredduringthis hearing(listedbyName,BillNumber,PrimeSponsor,andthecurrentstatusofeachbill) IdentificationofLawfulPresenceBills o SB9/Scarnati/PassedSenateandReferredtoCommitteeonStateGovernment o HB41/Marsico/ReferredtoCommitteeonStateGovernment o ArizonaModelLegislation/HB738/Metcalfe/ReferredtoCommitteeonState Government PenaltiesandDutiesofAgencies/HB355/Readshaw/RereferredtoStateGovernment LicenseRevocation/HB439/Mustio/RereferredtoCommitteeonStateGovernment StateCompact/HB474/Cox/ReferredtoCommitteeonStateGovernment CriminalRecords/HB798/Creighton/ReferredtoCommitteeonStateGovernment MemorandumofUnderstanding/HB799/Creighton/ReferredtoCommitteeonState Government PowerofLawEnforcement/HB801/Creighton/ReferredtoCommitteeonStateGovernment SanctuaryBills o SanctuaryCitiesFunding/HB810/Perry/ReferredtoCommitteeonStateGovernment o SanctuaryCitiesVictims/HB865/Knowles/RereferredtoStateGovernment SmugglingofHumanBeings/HB856/Kauffman/RereferredtoCommitteeonState Government CommonwealthCitizenshipAct/HB857/Metcalfe/RereferredtoCommitteeonState Government Everification/HB858/Metcalfe/RereferredtoCommitteeonStateGovernment

Weopposeallofthesebillsingeneralastheyareanimmigrationenforcementonlyformoflegislation anddonottakeintoaccountthedisparateimpacttheselawswouldhaveonallresidentsdocumented

PennsylvaniaNOW,Inc. andundocumented.Theyalsoimposenewburdensonourworkers,businesses,andtheeconomyin general.Womenandchildren,inmanyofthesebills,wouldalsobeevenmoreharshlyhit.The followingisaselectivereviewofafewofthesebillsandwhywebelievethattheseparticularbillswould mostharshlyimpactwomenandchildrenhereinPennsylvania.

Identification Bills
Therearetwotypesofbillsdealingwithidentificationissues.Onedealswithemploymentand obtainingformsofidentification.Theothertypedealswithaccesstopublicbenefits. HB858requiresallPennsylvaniaemployerstoenrollinthefederalEVerifyprogramtoconfirm employeeSocialSecuritynumbers.Italsodeniesanyformofregistration(includingdriverslicenses)to individualswhocannotprovethattheyarelegalresidentsoftheUS.Thisbillcouldcauseserious problemsforvictimsfleeingdomesticviolencesituationswithoutanyidentification. SenateBill9andHouseBills41and738requireindividualstoproduceagovernmentissuedformof identificationtoprovetheirlawfulpresenceinPennsylvaniainordertoreceiveeitherpublicbenefitsor benefitsfromnonprofitagencieswhoreceiveanyfundingfromthestate.SenateBill9isthefurtherest alonginthelegislativeprocess;ithaspassedoutoftheSenateandiscurrentlyintheStateHouse GovernmentCommittee.HB738ismodeledonArizonasAntiImmigrationlaw.Allthreewilltieup governmentprograms,costthestatemillionsofdollars,furtherhurtourfragileeconomy,andplacethe livesofwomenandchildrenindanger. BothSB9andHB41requireidentificationforlawfulpresenceintheUnitedStatesasaprerequisiteto thereceiptofpublicbenefits.Amongtherestrictionsaredenialofanybenefitthatthestateorlocal governmentprovidesincluding,inthecaseofHB41,accesstoanylocalfoodbanks&services providedtowomen,infants,&childrenthroughtheSpecialSupplementalNutritionProgramfor Women,Infants&Children(WIC).(Letsstarvethekids!).Bothalsorequirethattheidentificationbe verifiedthroughtheflawedfederalHomelandSecuritysSystematicAlienVerificationofEntitlement (SAVE)database. HB738ismuchbroadertheneitherSB9andHB41andaspreviouslystated,mirrorsmuchofArizonas antiimmigrantlawSB1070.Ithasseveralsections.First,likeSB9andHB41,itrequiresallagencies andmunicipalitiestoverifythatapplicantsforpublicbenefitsareeitherUScitizensorlawful immigrants.ThisappliestoapplicantsforFederal,State,orlocalpublicbenefitsprograms.Allother applicantsnotexemptwouldhavetosignanaffidavitswearinglawfulimmigrationstatus,subjectto verificationthroughtheflawedSystematicAlienVerificationofEntitlementProgram.Second,itfines officials,agencies,andmunicipalitiesforfailuretoenforcethelaw.Third,itmakesitacrimetobe JoanneL.TostiVasey,Ph.D.2

PennsylvaniaNOW,Inc. undocumented.Forth,itpenalizesemployerswhohireundocumentedworkers.Andfifth,itallows policetoseizeanyvehicletheysuspectmightbeusedfortransportingundocumentedworkers.

THESE BILLS ALL RELY ON THE USE OF THE FLAWED FEDERAL E-VERIFY SYSTEM
AccordingtotheNationalImmigrationLawCenter,thereisanerrorrateofbetween0.08and2.3percent inverificationofemploymenteligibilityfordocumentingimmigrantslegalstatusintheUS.Nationally, thatmeansthatwithanestimated60,000,000newhireseachyear,somewherebetween480,000and 1,300,000legalimmigrantsandUScitizenswillbeflaggedasundocumented1.Accordingtothe2010 Census,4.2percentofthetotaladultUSpopulationresideinPennsylvania.2Assumeforamomentthat 4.2percentor2,425,000ofthesenewhiresoccurinPennsylvaniaeachyear.Thatmeansforemployment searchesalone,anestimatedtotalofbetween1,940and55,775legalresidentswilllikelybeflaggedas undocumented.ThisnumberwillbeevenhigheriftheEverifysystemisusednotonlyforemployment butforaccesstopublicbenefits.Andthisnumberwillbehigheroncethestateattemptstoverify childrenaswellasadults.

THE LACK OF IDS WILL TIE UP PROGRAMS.

Requiringanindividualtoeitherproduceagovernmentidand/ortobeverifiedthroughtheflawedE verifysystemwilltieupprogramsatgreatexpensetothestateandtoindividualswhoneedaccessto services.OnMarch1,2011,theWomensLawProjectandCommunityLegalServicesalongwith24 otherorganizationssubmittedtestimonytothePennsylvaniaSenateregardingthegovernment identificationrequirementsfoundinSB9.Theirconcerns,inouropinion,alsoapplytotheseotherbills aswell. Inthatletter,theypointoutthatagovernmentissuedphotoidmaybehardtoobtain.Thatcouldbedue totheneedforhavingotherformsofgovernmentid,suchasabirthcertificate.Forexample,abirth certificatetoprovebirthintheUnitedStatescantaketimetoobtainsothatyoucanthenobtainapicture Moran,Tyler(June11,2011).StatementofTylerMoran,PolicyDirector,NationalImmigrationLaw CentertotheUSHouseCommitteeontheJudiciary,SubcommitteeonImmigrationPolicyand Enforcement:HearingontheLegalWorkforceAct.RetrievedAugust21,2011from http://nilc.org/immsemplymnt/ircaempverif/LegalWorkforceActimmsubcommtestimony201106 15.pdf. 22010Census.RetrievedAugust21,2011from http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF1_QTP1& prodType=tableand http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_NSRD_QTP L&prodType=table.
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PennsylvaniaNOW,Inc. id,suchasadriverslicenseorapassport.Peoplewhohavelosttheiroriginalbirthcertificateorwho havenoaccesstotheirdocumentationsuchasdomesticviolencevictimswhohavefledtheirviolent homeswithoutanyidentificationorforpeoplewhohavelostalloftheirbelongingsinadisastercould resultindelaysthattheycannotwaitfor.Inaddition,peoplewithoutpersonaltransportcouldbe furtherdelayedbynotbeingabletotraveltoaphotoidcentertoobtainaphotoid. Besidethecomplicationsinobtaininggovernmentissuedphotoidsprovingalegalbasisforbeinginthe UnitedStates,thereistheadditionalcostforsettingupandmaintainingtheseidentificationprograms. Thiscancausefinancialproblemstothestateinadditiontodelayingthedistributionofneededbenefits todocumentedindividuals.Forexample,Coloradoreportedthatthestateincurredover$2,000,000in additionalcostsinthefirstyearoffullimplementationoftheirphotoidlawandGovernorRendells administrationestimatedthatimplementingthephotoidrequirementsfortheUnemployment CompensationprogramalonethatisrequiredbySB9wouldcostanadditional$20,000,000.3

THESE BILLS WILL ENDANGER LIVES.

AccordingtotheNewYorkUniversitysLawSchoolsBrennenCenterforJustice4,about11percentofall USCitizensdonothaveagovernmentissuedid.Thatnumberrisesto15percentforlowincome familieswhowouldmostlikelyneedthepublicbenefitscoveredunderthesebills. Womenaremorelikelythanmentohaveproblemsprovidingproofofcitizenship.Accordingtothis samestudy,onethirdofwomen18andolder,onequarterofAfricanAmericans,and16percentof LatinasandLatinosdonothavereadyaccesstocitizenshippaperspassports,naturalizationpapers, and/orbirthcertificates.Andforthosewithsomeformofcitizenshippapersintheirpossession,10 percentdonothavethepaperworktoshowboththeircurrentnameandcurrentaddress.Thisnumber risesto18percentforadultsages1824;thisyoungercohortincludelowerincomeindividualswhoare morelikelytobeparentswithyoungchildrenthatneedtimecriticalpublicbenefits. InPennsylvaniain2007,nearly1.4millionPennsylvanians,oralmost12percent,werelivingbelow poverty.Itisestimatedthatover806,000(approximately58percent)oftheseindividualswerefemale5. Giventhatfemalesaremorelikelythanmalestolivebelowthepovertylineandarethusmorelikelyto needaccesstopublicservices,thisrequirementforidentificationcouldendangertheirandtheirfamilies lives. WomensLawProject(March1,2011).AdvocateslettertoPASenateOpposingSB9.RetrievedAugust 21,2011fromhttp://www.womenslawproject.org/legislative/SB9_opposition.pdf. 4BrennenCenterforJustice(November2006).CitizensWithoutProof.RetrievedAugust22,2011from http://www.brennancenter.org/page//d/download_file_39242.pdf. 5PennsylvaniaCommissionforWomen(2009).ThestatusofPennsylvaniawomenreport2009. Harrisburg,PA:PennsylvaniaCommissionforWomen.
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PennsylvaniaNOW,Inc. Additionally,womenwhohavebeenmadehomeless(92percentofhomelesswomenhaveexperienced physicaland/orsexualviolenceatsomepointintheirlives6)orwhoarefleeingdomesticviolenceand leavewithoutanydocumentationareparticularlyvulnerable.YetonlySB9mentionsanexemptionto providingdocumentationfordomesticviolencevictimsiftheysignanaffidavitofdomesticviolence. Homelessvictimswhohaveanevenmoredesperatelifeandareinneedofservicesmaynothaveeither theabilitytoortheknowledgeofhowtoobtaineitherthisneededidentificationorthislimited exemptionfromhavingthisformofidentification.Andsincetheyhavenopermanentdomicile, obtainingaphotoidwithacurrentaddressisnotlikelytohappen. HB738ADDITIONALLYRELIESONRACIALPROFILING Inadditiontothegeneralconcernsaboutalloftheseidentificationbills,wehaveanadditionalconcern aboutHB738.Inadditiontotheidrequirements,itallowspoliceofficerstostopandseizeanyvehicle theysuspectmightbeusedfortransportingundocumentedworkers.LikewithHB856,thissectionof thebillreliesonillegalracialprofiling. Thisbillallowspoliceofficerstostopanyvehicledrivenbysomeonetheythinkmightbetransporting undocumentedworkersifreasonablesuspicionexists.Whatdeterminesreasonablesuspicion? SinceSeptember11,2001,Arabs,Muslims,andHispanicshavemostoftenbeenthetargetsofsuspicion eitherduetothebeliefthatallArabsandMuslimsareorcouldbeterroristsORthebeliefthatthe majorityofundocumentedpeopleareofHispanicorigin7.Thisformofreasonablesuspicionresultsin victimizationoftheinnocentwhoarenotinvolvedintrafficking.Thisprofilingalsofailstoactuallyfind andprosecuteindividualsthemselveswhodonotfittheprofileofundocumentedforeigner.

Commonwealth Citizenship Act

HB857seekstopreventautomaticcitizenshipforchildrenbornintheUStoundocumentedaliens.It deniescitizenshiprightswithintheborderofPennsylvaniatoanychildbornanywhereintheUSwhose parentsarenoteithercitizensoftheUSorwhoarenotlegalresidentaliensthatnowresidein Pennsylvania.Thisbillonitsfaceisunconstitutionalasitviolatesthe14thamendmenttotheUS Constitution.The14thAmendmentwasratifiedin1868andguaranteesthatallchildrenborninthe PennsylvaniaCommissionforWomen(2009).ThestatusofPennsylvaniawomenreport2009. Harrisburg,PA:PennsylvaniaCommissionforWomen 7LeadershipConferenceonCivilRightsEducationFund(nodate).Wrongthen,wrongnow:Racial profilingbeforeandafterSeptember11,2001.RetrievedAugust22,2011from http://www.civilrights.org/publications/wrongthen/racial_profiling_report.pdf.
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PennsylvaniaNOW,Inc. UnitedStates(withminorexceptionsforchildrenofforeigndiplomatsandinvadingforces)arecitizens. SinceitistheUSandnotstatesthatgrantcitizenship,Pennsylvaniacannotdenybenefitstocitizens, eveniftheyhaveundocumentedparents. The14thAmendmentisacornerstoneofthemovementforcivilrightsforall(itispartiallythebasisfor thePennsylvaniaHumanRelationsActinadditiontotheCivilRightsActof1964,theAmericanwith DisabilitiesActof1992,etc.)andithasplayedacriticalroleinourcountrysculturaldiversity. Limitingthescopeofthe14thamendmentbydenyingcitizenshipasdefinedinHB857willactuallymake thingsworsebyincreasingthenumberofundocumentedimmigrantsandwillcreatesignificant bureaucraticandfinancialburdensforallAmericans.ApanelattheCenterforAmericanProgress listedtheseburdensiftheCitizenshipClausewererevokedatthefederallevelorignoredvialegislation atthestatelevel.Theystated8that: 1. Alarge,newandexpensivefederalbureaucracy[wouldbeneeded]toinvestigatethe citizenshipstatusofparentsbeforebirthcertificatescouldbeissuedtotheirnewbornchildren. Sincebirthcertificatesareissuedbystates,Pennsylvaniawouldhavetogreatlyincreasefunding fortheDepartmentofHealthtoworkwiththefederalgovernmenttoensurethatatleastone parentisaUSCitizenbeforeissuingthebirthcertificate. 2. ThedepartmentsofStateandHomelandSecuritywhichroutinelychargefeesforimmigrant visasandrelatedservicescouldchargeparentsupto$600toverifythelegalstatusofeachbirth. Andtheverificationprocessitselfcouldalsotakeweeks,monthsorevenyears.Thislongdelay andhighcosttolowincomeindividualscouldjeopardizethelivesofthesechildren/adultsdueto thedelayinverification;and 3. RepealingorlimitingthescopeoftheCitizenshipClausewouldblurthelinebetweenwhoisa citizenandwhoisnot,creatingaU.S.castesystemthatwouldforeverrelegatethosedeemedto beoflesserstatusfromfullyparticipatingandcontributingtoournation.

Smuggling of Human Beings (aka Human Trafficking)

HB856isanamendmentto18Pa.C.S.(StatuteonTraffickingofHumanBeings)thatcreatesathird degreefelonyforpeoplewhoknowinglyorrecklesslytransportundocumentedworkersforprofitor commercialpurpose.ItaddsaclausesimilartotheoneproposedinHB738thatallowspoliceofficersto stopanydriverofavehiclethattheyhavereasonablesuspicionoftransportingundocumented workers. Womencoercedintosexwork,domesticworkersandagriculturalworkerswhoareforcedintounpaid orunderpaidlabor,andcommerciallysexuallyexploitedchildren,arethemostcommonvictimsof
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Azcona,Sergio(May12,2011).RepealofCitizenshipClauseWouldCarryHeavyConsequences. RetrievedAugust22,2011fromhttp://www.civilrights.org/archives/2011/05/1191citizenship.html. JoanneL.TostiVasey,Ph.D.6

PennsylvaniaNOW,Inc. humantrafficking.AccordingtothePolarisProject,VictimsofhumantraffickingintheUnitedStates includeU.S.citizensorforeignnationals,adultsorminors,andmenorwomen.Foreignbornvictimsin theU.S.maybeeitherdocumentedorundocumented.9 Thisbillmakestwoassumptionsabouthumantrafficking.Thefirstfalseassumptionisthathuman traffickingisanotherwordforhumansmuggling.Infact,theyaretwoseparatefederalcrimes. Smugglingrequiresillegalbordercrossing.Humantraffickingisacrimeagainstapersonwhohasbeen inducedorforcedintocommercialsexactsorlaborwhetherornottransportationisinvolved.The secondfalseassumptionisthatforeignnationaltraffickingvictimsarealwaysundocumentedandare hereinthiscountryillegally.ForeignnationalscanbehereintheUnitedStateseitherlegallyorillegally. Asignificantpercentageoftraffickedvictims,accordingtothePolarisProject,areherelegallyandare documented.ToquotethePolarisProject,Humantraffickingencompassesbothtransnational traffickingthatcrossesbordersanddomesticorinternaltraffickingthatoccurswithinacountry.10 Thestatisticsonhumantraffickingarescare,particularlyfordomestictrafficking.Andwhatstatistics areavailableareoftencontradictoryduetothecovertnatureofthecrime,theveryhighlevelsof underreporting,theinvisibilityofvictims,inconsistentdefinitions(includingassumptionsthat traffickingisonlyaninternationalissue),andthelackofdatacollectionandresearchonthisissue, particularlyfordomesticadulttrafficking.Ofthestatisticsavailable,53percentofadultvictimsand66 percentofchildvictimsoftraffickingarefemale.Anditisestimatedthatbetween100,000and300,000 childrenfromwithinthebordersoftheUSarevictimsofprostitution.11 Thesestatisticsindicatethatfocusingonhumantraffickingbycreatingalawthatallowspoliceofficersto stopanyvehicledrivenbysomeonetheythinkmightbetransportingundocumentedworkersdoesnot reallydealwiththeterribleproblemofhumantrafficking.Ratheritisanothercivilrightsviolation throughtheuseofracialprofiling. Whatdeterminesreasonablesuspicion?SinceSeptember11,2001,Arabs,Muslims,andHispanics havemostoftenbeenthetargetsofsuspicioneitherduetothebeliefthatallArabsandMuslimsareor PolarisProject(nodate).HumanTrafficking.RetrievedAugust22,2011from http://www.polarisproject.org/humantrafficking/overview. 10PolarisProject(nodate).CommonmythsandmisconceptionsabouthumantraffickingintheUS. RetrievedAugust22,2011from https://na4.salesforce.com/sfc/play/index.jsp?oid=00D300000006E4S&v=06860000000Hqhh&d=0i1GKP5P Vjb5g7wWmouadOJ20Kk%3D&viewId=05H60000000IwPe. 11PolarisProject(2011).Humantraffickingstatistics.RetrievedAugust22,2011from https://na4.salesforce.com/sfc/play/index.jsp?oid=00D300000006E4S&v=06860000000HqhN&d=0i1GKP5P Vjb5g7wWmouadOJ20Kk%3D&viewId=05H60000000IwPe.
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PennsylvaniaNOW,Inc. couldbeterroristsORthebeliefthatthemajorityofundocumentedpeopleareofHispanicorigin12.This formofreasonablesuspicionresultsinvictimizationoftheinnocentwhoarenotinvolvedin trafficking.Thisprofilingalsofailstoactuallyfindandprosecutetraffickerswhodonotfittheprofileof undocumentedforeigner. Thecurrentstatelawonhumantraffickingcombinedwiththefederallawswillnotbeimprovedbythis bill.Althoughitmightcatchsometraffickers,itwillharmotherswhoareinnocentofthiscrimeandwill notdealatallwithdomestictrafficking. Puttingfurtheremphasisonenforcingthecurrentlaw18Pa.C.S.(StatuteonTraffickingofHuman BeingsaswellaspassingtwootherbillsbeforetheGeneralAssemblywouldimprovethelivesof victimsofhumantrafficking.WeurgeyoutopassHB235.ItmandatesthepostingoftheNational HumanTraffickingResourceCenterhotline,inkeylocationsthroughoutthestatetoprovideassistance, tipreportingandtrainingonhumantraffickingtovictims,communitymembers&lawenforcement.We alsoencourageyoutohavetheSenateconsiderandpassSB885andsendittoyouforconsiderationand passage.ThisbillamendsSection3002(a)of18Pa.C.S.toallowprostitutionconvictionstobevacatedif thewoman(orman)canshowthatthearrestoccurredwhilebeingavictimofsextrafficking.Bothof thesebillswouldgivepoliceaccesstoinformationaboutrealhumantraffickersratherthanhavingthem relyoninaccurateandillegalracialprofiling. Thankyoufortakingtimetolistentoourconcernsonthesebills.Welookforwardtoyourresponseto ourconcerns.

Sincerely,

JoanneL.TostiVasey,Ph.D. President PennsylvaniaNOW,Inc. Cc:AmyHockenberry(ahockenb@pahousegop.com);ElizabethSickler(esickler@pahousegop.com); CathyWadding(cwadding@pahousegop.com),andKimHileman(khileman@pahouse.net 12LeadershipConferenceonCivilRightsEducationFund(nodate).Wrongthen,wrongnow:Racial profilingbeforeandafterSeptember11,2001.RetrievedAugust22,2011from http://www.civilrights.org/publications/wrongthen/racial_profiling_report.pdf. JoanneL.TostiVasey,Ph.D.8