MEDIA ADVISORY CONTACT: Robert Shull, OMB Watch -- (202) 234-8494 Karen Wayland, Natural Resources Defense Council -- (202) 289-2402 What: A bill moving to a floor vote this week in the House of Representatives contains controversial language that would empower the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive any and all law -- federal and state, civil and criminal -- in the course of securing the borders. When: This Thursday, February 10, 2005 Why: Public interest groups are gathering in opposition to section 102 of H.R. 418, the REAL ID Act of 2005. The bill is better known for its proposed changes to national identity card standards and changes to immigration law, but a wide range of groups are opposed to a section that would empower the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive any and all law, without limit and with no checks and balances. This section would be an open-ended grant of power, with no end date, to waive any and all law whenever the DHS Secretary acts to secure the borders and remove "obstacles to detection of illegal immigrants." It also eliminates all opportunity for judicial review. For more information or to download documents, visit the OMB Watch website at www.ombwatch.org/taxonomy/term/154.