FR Exclusive: Jeb answers questions about his support of drivers licenses for undocumented workers

Jeb's emails to FR poster, summer | April 6, 2004 | Jeb Bush

[summer]

Thank you for taking the time to write to him and give him the chance to clarify.

My pleasure, redlipstick. You make good points. I realize it is quite rare that people in office have an opportunity to speak directly, without someone else's slant to deal with. So, a big thank you to FR, too.

[summer]

Good question. Thanks for your post #20, livius.

[azhenfud]

"Aliens would be required to:

Ø show an identification card with digital image that has been produced with standards that would prevent counterfeiting;

Ø provide a second form of identification;

Ø submit fingerprints to the state; and

Ø agree to a criminal background check from their country of origin, the state of Florida and the United States."


And Jeb's gonna suddenly require this of 400,000 Illegaliens? ROTFLOL! ROTFLOL!

[summer]

Re your post #16 - I think you're right. Thanks, Miss Marple.

[txdoda]

Under Federal law, no state has the power to deport anyone; it is exclusively the domain of the Federal government.

LOL.......Under Federal Law it is ILLEGAL for illegals to work in th USA.......so WHY would Jeb Bush (or any governor) want to Aid & Abet the illegals that are here ????

(any mention of any Federal Laws Jeb will *overlook* for citizens ??)

[summer]

so WHY

I think he has genuinely tried to explain his position here.

[expatpat]

They will have a distinct look from standard driver licenses.

This is a key issue for me. It is quite different from Gray Davis' approach (and Arnold's thinking as far as I know).

[summer]

RE your post #23 - You know, as a public school teacher, I can tell you there is a lot required in terms of ID for a person to teach (or volunteer) in a FL public school. So, I am not rolling on the floor laughing, as you are, because the state does require a lot of ID from some people, including those in public education.

[Miss Marple]

Attention! If those are the requirements, why do you think very many illegals will even apply?

[Petronski]

...under very strict conditions...

Barbra Streisand

[summer]

Re your post #27 - IMHO, I think this goes to a security issue here, too.

[freekitty]

I was wondering what powers the states do have or is everything in the hands of the Feds?

[Libertina]

I got a driver's license when I lived overseas - of course I wasn't an illegal and they would have arrested me and deported me if I was caught...

That being said, atleast there will be background checks and decent photos. Also, the fingerprinting is an excellent idea. (I didn't have to do that in Asia, but there was no terrorist thread at the time.) I am concerned about these License ID's being used for illegal voting, though. Even one illegal vote means an American citizen has had their right taken away.

It is better than nothing, I can see that honest effort was made in putting this bill together. It seems shameful though, that we as a country have so lost control that we cannot arrest people who are here illegally. It makes us look like weak schmucks, and the rest of the world acts upon it.

[Iscool]

"Florida has no power over immigration and naturalization issues"...

Seems to me the State of Florida does have the power to arrest a "Federal" criminal and hold the criminal until the Feds arrive...Sounds like a cop-out to me...

[summer]

I was wondering 'what powers the states do have' or is everything in the hands of the Feds?

in terms of....could you be a little more specific here? Thanks, freekitty. :)

[summer]

I am concerned about these License ID's being used for illegal voting, though

See post #27.

[azhenfud]

Pardon, but these are ILLEGALS who've already shown a propensity to disregard law - both state and federal.
Why would you or Gov. Bush think they would even try to comply with so many OTHER requirements?

[summer]

See post #32 - I think you are both asking the same question here.

[summer]

Re your post #37 - Because they want to eventually become citizens? I am just guessing. I think there are illegals who want to become legal. No?

[Vigilanteman]

If it was up to me, we could cure the problem with states and localities pandering to illegal aliens overnight. When the census is taken, every person counted would have to declare their legal status. Those who refuse to answer or who answer yes, but fail to produce a valid resident permit when asked would be considered illegal immigrants.

Their numbers would be doubled and subtracted from the reported population of the area. So when reapportionment, government funding and other goodies come around, areas with illegal immigrants would be penalized rather than rewarded. Big states like California, Illinois, New York, Texas and Flordia would probably lose congressional seats. Rural backwaters like Oklahoma, Mississippi and Indiana would probably gain seats.

Once illegal immigrant pandering ceases to be fashionable, so would illegal immigration.