HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST for HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV

H.R. 2136/ S. 1145 - To amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify and expand federal criminal jurisdiction over federal contractors and employees outside the United States, and for other purposes S.1253 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Subtitle D--Detainee Matters Sec. 1031. Authority to detain unprivileged enemy belligerents captured pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force Sec. 1032. Required military custody for members of al-Qaeda and affiliated entities Sec. 1033. Permanent requirements for certifications relating to the transfer of detainees at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to foreign countries and other foreign entities Policy issues include: Supporting use of U.S. federal civilian courts to try terrorism suspects Improving detainee treatment in U.S. detention centers in Afghanistan Supporting judicial reform and training in Afghanistan

Contacted: SENATE; Defense, Dept of (DOD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Natl Security Council (NSC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); State, Dept of (DOS)

Bills named: S. 1253 (112th), H.R. 2136 (112th), S. 1145 (112th)

Foreign Relations FOR

H.R. 2583 - Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2012 (not yet introduced at the time); supported increasing appropriations for the United Nations Human Rights Council Global Partnerships Act of 2011; Supporting Human Rights and Democracy (not yet introduced) Policy issues include: Addressing Bahrain at the U.N. Human Rights Council session in Geneva Pressuring Bahrain to immediately end all human rights abuses Instituting public guidelines for U.S. embassy interaction with human rights defenders Publicly supporting LGBTI rights, including supporting gay pride marches Creating and implementing an interagency Atrocities Prevention Board Identifying enablers of mass atrocities and curbing their activities Pressuring Uganda to end criminalization of homosexuality Opposing Russias misuse of anti-extremist laws to persecute nonviolent government critics including journalist, independent media and human rights organizations, and religious organizations Supporting Internet freedom policies that respect freedom of expression and association and protect the right to privacy Confirming Thomas Krajeski as U.S. ambassador to Bahrain

Contacted: Defense, Dept of (DOD); State, Dept of (DOS); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Natl Security Council (NSC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS)

Bills named: H.R. 2583 (112th)

Immigration IMM

Supported H.R.2981: Restoring Protection to Victims of Persecution Act of 2011 to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the 1-year deadline for applications for asylum in the United States (112th Congress version). Opposed H.R. 1932: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for extensions of detention of certain aliens ordered removed, and for other purposes Policy issues include: Reforming the U.S. immigration detention system, including efforts to discontinue use of jails and jail-like facilities, improve custody/release procedures and expand alternatives to detention Increasing appropriations for the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) within the Department of Justice for immigration courts and legal orientation programs Reforming the current asylum system related to detention, the one year filing deadline, and terrorism related grounds of inadmissibility Reforming the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), including: An expedited resettlement program for refugees who face imminent risks Reforming the interagency security check process to enable more timely and effective processing of background checks, and Institutionalizing due process safeguards in resettlement adjudications Supporting efforts to address the lack of effective protection for refugees who flee persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity Increasing appropriations for UNHCR for refugee protection Advocating for the protection of LGBTI individuals and their rights in Uganda and elsewhere

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); State, Dept of (DOS); Natl Security Council (NSC); SENATE

Bills named: H.R. 2981 (112th), H.R. 1932 (112th)