He said the provision also denied equal protection of the laws by discriminating against strikers and their families as "an unpopular political minority."

Also, despite a general increase in the number and diversity of immigrants, the new provisions would deny visas to members of a "Communist or other totalitarian party."

A separate provision, which sets a five-year limit on cash benefits for any family, would eventually deny aid to more than four million children, it said.

These provisions, similar to ones in the anti-terrorism bill, would deny a fair hearing to many asylum seekers.

Numerous Changes at Plant Mr. Watkins wrote that the provision, now law, "effectively denies me the ability to carry out my responsibilities."

He had been most adamant that the bill include a provision to deny driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, overriding laws in some states that permit them to obtain licenses.

Specifically, Judge Newcomer said, the provision denies "equal protection of the laws" to indigent families moving from one state to another.

One provision of the 1996 law denies entry to to executives of companies that violate the law.

Alabama and Arkansas note that one provision denies coverage to children of public employees.

That provision would deny food stamps to a worker who collected the stamps for three months in his 20's, worked steadily for the next 25 years and was then laid off.