(The following letter was sent to Congresspersons Peter T. King and Carolyn McCarthy. It is being reprinted here at the authors request.)

We, and the 473 members of the congregation who signed this letter today, urge you to do everything possible to support "The Secret Evidence Repeal Act of 1999," introduced on May 19, 1999 by Congressmen Tom Campbell (R-CA) and David Bonoir (D-MD).

As you know, presently, the use of "Secret Evidence" denies the accused and their attorneys the opportunity to evaluate or challenge "secret evidence" now being used in deportation cases. The detainees are thus denied their right to confront the government's information in court. The use of "secret evidence" is obviously contrary to the principles that are essential under our system of due process and fundamental fairness.

The findings of a broad coalition of civil rights, lawyers' and immigrants' rights organizations are very disturbing. Attorneys have reported disconcerting due process violations by the Immigration and Naturalization Service in many cases. Individuals are needlessly denied bond based on "secret evidence," and immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals, in some cases, have taken over a year to decide the bond issue alone!

Representative David Bonior's office stated that "under the 1996 Anti-Terrorism and effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the INS is allowed to arrest, detain and deport non-citizens on the basis of "secret evidence" ¬ evidence whose source and substance is not revealed to the potential deportees or their counsels. The use of "secret evidence" in deportation proceedings has raised serious questions about due process. There are currently about 25 individuals being held in the US without trials, without charges pending against them and without the opportunity to provide bail."

The American legal system was founded on the defendants' right to examine evidence provided against them in a court of law. To deny any person, a citizen, a visitor or a new immigrant, the right to know what he or she is charged with is clearly a violation of the US Constitution. "Secret Evidence" might be in use by dictatorial regimes but not in the USA!

Kindly inform us what steps you will take to correct this present injustice and if you plan to support "The Secret Evidence Repeal Act of 1999." Anxiously awaiting your reply.

Al-Haaj Ghazi Y. Khankan

Director of Interfaith and Communication