Immigrants get warning on driver's licenses

[Jazzy]

Immigrants get warning on driver's licenses

While tens of thousands of immigrants living in the United States illegally are preparing to apply for a long-sought driver's license in California starting Jan. 2, others are being urged to think twice.

Immigrant advocates say the vast majority should be able to get licenses without trouble, but they want anyone who previously obtained a driver's license under a false name or someone else's Social Security number to speak first with a lawyer, fearing a new application could trigger a fraud investigation.

The same applies to immigrants with a prior deportation order or criminal record because federal immigration officials and law enforcement can access Department of Motor Vehicles data during an investigation.

California expects 1.4 million people to apply for the licenses — which include a distinct marking from those issued to U.S. citizens and residents — over the next three years. The number of people making license appointments more than doubled to 379,000 during the first two weeks immigrants were allowed to sign up.

Immigrant advocates said they don't foresee major problems with the rollout of the program because the state has had more than a year to prepare and an ample budget — $141 million spanning three years.

Jonathan Blazer, advocacy and policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, said he expects California to license as many immigrants in the country illegally as the nine other states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico combined.

"If California is not able to do this right with the resources it put into this, other states will take notice," Blazer said.

Critics have voiced security concerns and questioned the ability of state officials to verify immigrants' identities.

As a citizen of the United States, born and raised, if I drive without a license I get arrested. But an illegal trespasser can obtain a drivers license so they can drive legally, even though they are here illegally. Seems to me they get to share in all the benefits of being a citizen without any of the sacrifices so many have made before them to become citizens. That's my two cents worth.

What do you think?

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Why are you such a racist hater! LOL!

 

[Webster]

Why are you such a racist hater! LOL!

Yeah, why don't we just open the door for them....oh, wait: Nobama's already done that. Never mind...