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A federal appeals court in the US state of Virginia has set the stage for a hearing to review the constitutionality of tough new immigration measures in the REAL ID Act. The REAL ID Act would make the nation's drivers' licenses the same from state to state, and deny drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants.
The case centers on new rules in the act that limit the right of appeal for people ordered deported. The law's supporters say the rules will stop abuse of the immigration system, including by terrorists. Critics charge its provisions are too strict.
The REAL ID Act, signed into law this month, mainly deals with the integrity of the nation's drivers' licensing systems -- setting minimum standards and effectively denying licenses to undocumented migrants and other illegal aliens. But it also includes a series of tough immigration provisions.
These provisions, say the law's authors, were designed to prevent those being deported from getting around time limits for filing court papers, dragging out their cases with repeated appeals and using the appellate courts to second-guess judges' views about their credibility.
The case centers on new rules in the act that limit the right of appeal for people ordered deported. The law's supporters say the rules will stop abuse of the immigration system, including by terrorists. Critics charge its provisions are too strict.
The REAL ID Act, signed into law this month, mainly deals with the integrity of the nation's drivers' licensing systems -- setting minimum standards and effectively denying licenses to undocumented migrants and other illegal aliens. But it also includes a series of tough immigration provisions.
These provisions, say the law's authors, were designed to prevent those being deported from getting around time limits for filing court papers, dragging out their cases with repeated appeals and using the appellate courts to second-guess judges' views about their credibility.
