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President Obama would like to make life a bit easier for a small portion of the millions of undocumented immigrants leading clandestine lives in the United States. But a few Republican governors seem unwilling to let someone like the so-called “Leader of the Free World” stand in their way:
“Joining Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman vows to deny driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants who qualify for a new policy that would suspend deportation for at least two years and allow them to obtain work permits.
Heineman’s announcement came on the heels of Brewer’s controversial decision to sign an executive order denying licenses or other major benefits to undocumented immigrants who qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program.”
The obstruction is part of a goal undertaken by the nativist wing of the Republican Party to make life as difficult for the undocumented as the average American can stomach, known benignly as “self-deportation.” It’s the message approved by Mitt Romney, who also described Arizona’s anti-immigrant law as a model for the rest of the country — as if what the country truly needed was a Jan Brewer in every governor’s mansion from Honolulu to Augusta.
Arizona and Nebraska are the only two states to commit to such measures, so far, but you can expect at least one or two more as the nation inches toward Election Day.
Most states, however — and I may be a bit optimistic here — won’t follow Governors Brewer and Heinemen down the narrow path of xenophobia, sadism and spin. Already the California state government has shown signs of humanity by hinting that it’ll grant driver’s licenses to DACA-approved immigrants. Assemblyman Gil Cedillo has even vowed to pass legislation that would provide a driver’s license to all undocumented immigrants who meet requirements.
Currently, only two states allow the undocumented to obtain driver’s licenses: Washington and New Mexico — despite New Mexico’s popular Latina governor’s attempts to undo her state’s pro-immigrant law.
Campaigns to put licenses in the hands of undocumented immigrants have smoldered in many states for the past few decades, including in my home state of Illinois. Most recently, immigrants’ rights groups threw their collective might behind Colorado’s Initiative 52, which if passed, would’ve given undocumented immigrants living in the state the opportunity to obtain a right to the road. As with most efforts, Initiative 52 never survived its initial hurdle — the required 86,000 signatures before August 6.
That most states would be so narrow-minded as to deny undocumented immigrants the ability to obtain driver’s licenses never ceases to perplex. We’re fully aware that hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of these individuals already maneuver our streets. Yet, they’re behind the wheel of a 2-ton machine without testing or sanction by necessity — and which, for DREAMers, is no fault of their own. The law requires driver’s to be licensed, but it also prohibits the undocumented from being licensed. What options are left for the undocumented person who needs to get from A to B, especially in the mass-transit desert that is the average American suburb?
Denying driver’s licenses to the undocumented may fulfill the scheme of making immigrant lives unlivable, but the policy also puts at risk all Americans who must share the road with unlicensed drivers.
About Hector Luis Alamo, Jr.
Even as a documented American, it wasn’t easy getting together all the documents for a license. I don’t see how someone that is undocumented can get one.
So if somebody is undocumented, and they have to get to work, they will do what is necessary to get there, which includes driving! There are way to many DUI’s with suspended licenses driving, if you have to eat, live, you will do what you gotta do, to survive on this planet, regardless of government regulation. Just saying!
This is absolutely ridiculous, and we still have Latino’s that vote Republican…….. Ignorantes!
I agree with Angel, I guess I’m on the opposing side of tis. Getting a drivers license is a privilege not a right. I personally don’t agree with undocumented people driving
They need to let them have drivers liscenses, or yes it will put others at risk! Washington state gives the drivers liscenses! It’s better to give them out, or they drive with out insurance and then everyones screwed!
Romney is an idiot. This guy is a fake ass. Claims he’s hispanic, yet he doesn’t help his people! Q verguensa con este
People will still drive regardless. They need to get to work, school, etc… I believe it’s better to have licensed and insured drivers on the road than uninsured/unlicensed drivers. The risk is too much and the insurance premiums will soar if we keep this up.
Oh yeah just appease everything because 1st a rule was broken then an other so since they are breaking the rules just give them what they want!!!!! que mentalidad mas erronea
As a NYer I cant get a regular state ID bc a Birth certificate is no longer “a point” but green cards are….. they should not have that privilege…….
Can Americans get a drivers license in other countries if they’re there illegally? And if we let undocumented people get a license here how do we know that they are just good hardworkers? I know a lot from the Latino community are, but there’s also an element of people who are not so good! How can this be filtered to keep the bad ones out?
1 in 3 in texas Dont have insurance and those people have drivers license . But if somebody hits them they are quick to get a lawyer for their pain and suffering .
Well they’re going to drive ANYWAYS so I would rather that they have licences than not!
I think the attitude of, “They’re going to drive anyway” is part of the problem. Like someone stated, driving is a privilege, not a right. I think what tends to rub people the wrong way is when undocumented immigrants say, “I’m not breaking any laws.”. Um, yes, YES, you are. It’s unfortunate, and I deeply believe that there should be a general reform in immigration making it easier for people to do so legally, but please don’t act like you’re not breaking a law.
Why not give un-documented PEOPLE a “special” DL, one that would require them to pay a monthly or yearly charge to have one? It would create revenue and the people in office would see just how much Hispanics help this country, which is alot
i think honest undocumented ppl should get a temporary visa as long as they prove that they are working. Maybe once a yr the govt checks up on them to make sure theyre working or something like that
There are international licenses that can be had. I am sure that if the Latino illegal community is notorious for buying stolen identities, social security numbers, credit cards, they can obtain these licenses. Fine, you illegals want to drive? Have your home countries flip the bill to obtain these international licenses – don’t burden the legal citizens of this nation with more entitlements that you don’t deserve. And another thing, stop changing the use of the language – they are not immigrants – they are illegal invaders. Big difference. All legal law abiding immigrants who want to assimilate should be welcomed with open arms if they go through a required process that starts in their home nations. All others should be sent back to their home nations. This is not a lack of humanity, but a genuine right for a country to protect its borders and national sovereignty. Mexico does this, why can’t we?
The Consulates of the countries of which they/their parents are citizens can help getting them international driver’s licenses and car insurance, or they can get a very different looking driver’s license for two years. It is shocking how authorities in countries like Mexico support illegal immigration to the US instead of working so that their citizens can have a better life and more opportunities without having to leave their country and family. A driver’s license is a very important document because in the US there is practically no other picture ID. We must not take this issue lightly thinking that a driver’s license is used only to drive. By the way, I do hope that those young people who were brought here illegally as children and do work/study hard find help from employers and institutions to help legalize them. However, among these group of young people there are also some who should be deported right away such as gang members. I understand this is not a simple issue.
Mario calls undocumented immigrants “illegal invaders.” I guess Americans are the LEGAL invaders, but maybe we should ask the Algonquins, the Cherokee, the French, the Seminole, the Spanish, the Mexicans, the Texians, the Apache and the Iraqis.
Careful how you use the word “invaders.” That’s a double-edged sword.
To piggyback on Hector’s reply to Mario Ramirez, I think it is interesting that uninformed, racist nationalists (like Mario R.) who talk about the US being “invaded” by “illegal” immigrants–from Mexico in particular–never bring up certain points in history that would highlight how the US has long promoted and participated in illegal occupation, illegal conquest, illegal annexation, and illegal immigration.
For example, in 1830 Mexico stopped allowing white immigrants from the US to enter Texas because of the hostile attitudes they were bringing to the area and their desire to expand the institution of slavery, which had already been outlawed in the Latin American country. Regardless of the law Mexico had established that prohibited further immigration to Texas by US citizens, white folks kept flooding in. According to the historian and anthropologist Martha Menchaca: “The Mexican government became increasingly alarmed when United States citizens did not cease immigrating to Texas. Mexican officials could not do anything to stop the flow of illegal immigrants, as people were pouring in by the thousands… Soon Mexicans found themselves surrounded by hostile colonists who viewed them as foreigners and intruders.”
At a time when there is intense anti-immigrant climate and culture, we as a country need historical perspective and context. We do not need nut jobs, like Mario Ramirez, and the bull sh*t they spew.
Yes I understand that two wrongs dont make a right but this is a public safety issue. Uninsured drivers are a much bigger problem than we realize. Court calendars are full of these cases
History may tell us that this country once adhered to illegal immigration and expansion policies, but the present tells us that this is becoming an issue for the economy. Millions maybe even billions of dollars are spent to repair cars that were wrecked because some illegal didn’t have insurance. Beyond that even more money is spent on court costs to indict these perpetrators. Your telling me you want to increase the amount of these instances by allowing them to get a drivers license? I mean that’s just freaking un american think about where your taxes are going and think about ways we could lower taxes and save money instead of wasting because of stupid policies and illegal activity.. get ur damn head out ur ass and realize how things really work in the real world.. In any other place in this world the immigration policy is much more strict than americas and if you have a problem with the American system than you can walk ur disgruntled illegal ass back across that desert and learn that the world is not responsible for you. You are responsible for u…
WOW! Hector… DUDE! Do you even know what President Obama’s Deferred Action Order (PODAO) is about? Maybe you should have read it before crying “FOUL”.
PODAO addresses ONLY two (2) issues. They are as follows:
1. It exercises prosecutorial discretion, on an individual basis, by deferring action against the individuals who meet the criteria and are at least 15 years old, for a period of 2 years, subject to renewal, in order to prevent low priority individuals from being placed into removal proceedings or removed from the United States.
2. For individuals who are granted deferred action by either ICE, or USCIS, USCIS shall accept applications to determine whether these individuals qualify for work authorization during the period of the deferred action.
That’s it! It does not grant additional entitlements to individuals who meet the criteria of PODAO. There is nothing in PODAO about Driver’s Licenses or applying for additional public benefits.
In Janet Napolitano’s, Secretary of Homeland Security, memorandum regarding this issue… she writes that President Obama’s Deferred Action Order confers no substantive right , immigration status or pathway to citizenship. Only the Congress, acting through it’s legislative authority can confer these rights.
You are mistaken when you state that Governor Jan Brewer and Governor Dave Heineman are denying driver’s license to undocumented immigrants. Federal law does that. Federal law prohibits foreign nationals who are in the U.S. illegally from obtaining a driver’s license.
I personally know many foreign nationals who are in the U.S. illegally. They don’t all drive. Many don’t even have any intention of driving. I’ve asked this question to the people I know (undocumented) and it seems to be split down the middle… the ones who are currently driving without a driver’s license and the ones who want to drive are all up in arms… the ones who don’t drive and have no intention of driving could care less about this issue. I should also add, that some of the people I know who are undocumented have valid Oregan State driver’s licenses. Apparently, it’s really easy to get an Oregan State driver’s license if you are undocumented.
It’s obvious that you and those who are claiming “FOUL” are accusing Gov. Jan Brewer and Gov. Dave Heineman of denying foreign nationals who are in the U.S. illegally entitlements that are not even part of President Obama’s Deferred Action Order.