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New US law for deporting immigrants on anvil

     Washington: Some 115 Republicans have reportedly introduced a Bill in the US Congress, which if enacted, will allow law enforcement agencies to deport immigrants on terrorism charges. Moved by F James Sensenbrenner Jr., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and his colleagues, the Bill also calls for giving more discretionary powers to judges for denying asylum claims. The movers have also sought more powers to clamp down on immigrants living and working in the US without proper authorization. The Bill was introduced on Wednesday evening, hours after President George Bush called for action on his guest-worker programme, which would give illegal aliens now in the country temporary legal status, reports the Dawn. Sensenbrenner and chairmen of four other committees also sent a letter to Bush urging him to give more money for measures aimed at preventing illegal aliens from entering the country. The new Bill would extend the law so that terrorism-related grounds for excluding someone from entering the US also become grounds for deportation for those already here and would revamp the asylum system to make it easier for judges to deny a claim for asylum. The Bill's major focus is to crack down on illegal aliens' ability to obtain and use driver's licences.

US troops pull out if new Iraqi leaders request: Bush (Go To Top)

     Washington: US President George W. Bush said in an interview published in US news paper that US troops would pull out of Iraq if the new leaders to be elected Sunday requested it. But he said he expected them to ask US troops to remain as helpers, not occupiers. "I've heard the voices of the people that presumably will be in a position of responsibility after these elections, though you never know," Bush said. "But it seems like most of the leadership there understands that there will be a need for coalition troops at least until Iraqis are able to fight." Asked by the daily if the US troops should be withdrawn if the new Iraqi administeration requested it, Bush said: "Yes, absolutely and this is a sovereign government they're on their feet." There was, he said, "a certain realism among the Iraqi leadership, at least the ones I've talked to, that say, 'Look there's more work to do before we are ready to move out on our own.'"