U.S. Border Control Calls for Calif. Licenses to Be Banned as Airplane ID

www.cnsnews.com ^ | September 22, 2003 | Ed Nelson

[VU4G10]

Border Control Chief Calls for Calif. Driver's Licenses to Be Banned as Airplane ID

(CNSNews.com) - Ed Nelson, chairman of U.S. Border Control, has asked Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to ban the use of California driver's licenses as identification for boarding airplanes. "Since it is now so easy for anyone, including illegal aliens and terrorists, to get a California driver's permit, it is clear that such a document no longer provides any assurance that the holder deserves to be allowed a seat on an airplane," Nelson stated in a letter to Ridge. "It seems as if politics take precedence over our national security and safety," he continued. "September 11th has taught us nothing." In closing, Nelson stated: "Refusing to accept driver's licenses from any state that hands them out to non-citizens or other unidentifiable persons is a critical first step in protecting the traveling public. We must take action to prevent our nation's enemies from ever again using an airplane as a weapon of mass destruction." The new law in California allows illegal aliens to obtain a license with a Federal Taxpayer Identification Number or a "Matricula Consular" card, a document from the Mexican government that gives illegal aliens a form of identification.

[joesnuffy]

Setting the stage for Federal ID cards
Get chur chips....while they're hot

[VU4G10]

[CindyDawg]

Ban them at border crossings too. Make them show other ID to get back in.

[NonValueAdded]

Wow. It makes sense. Florida has tightened up it's procedures. How about states that absolutely need to make sure their illegals know how to drive (isn't that Gary's reason?) stamp a great big "UNDOCUMENTED" across the face of the license? Then the rest of us can get on about our business.

Game and Set ... will this also be match?

[gubamyster]

ping

[NonValueAdded]

sorry, make that "Gray Davis' reason" Now there is an oxymoron.

[Pubbie]

"Florida has tightened up it's procedures."

How is Jeb on the illlegal Immigration issue?

I've heard that he's squishy on it, but not as bad as his brother is.

[VU4G10]

[One_American]

Get ready for every illegal alien rights group, recoquista politician and Mexican consular to start screaming racism.

[socal_parrot]

Since it is now so easy for anyone, including illegal aliens and terrorists, to get a California driver's permit

The law hasn't taken effect yet. It is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2004. The law's implementation will be delayed once a referendum to repeal it qualifies for the March ballot. Opinion polls are running about 60% against the law in California, so it will be overturned. The guy should get his facts straight.

[Texas_Jarhead]

'fraid yur right

[DumpsterDiver]

Ban them at border crossings too. Make them show other ID to get back in.

I agree. I wonder why he didn't mention that in his letter to Ridge?

[Husker24]

polls are running about 60% against the law in California, so it will be overturned

Untill the courts overturn the results of the referendum, based on some phony-bolongna constitutional provision.

[FITZ]

They'll scream alright. But yet in Mexico itself they're asking for identification for those getting on buses. They'd be hypocrits to scream --- but they will.

Pasajeros deben de identificarse
In Spanish --- from a Mexican newspaper --- about how bus lines requesting official ID to sell tickets.

[Arkady]

What kalifornia really needs is a fence around it...but this is a step in the right direction.

[Catalonia]

"September 11th has taught us nothing."

He means: "September 11th has taught LIBERALS nothing."

Nothing gets in the way of Democratic entitlement pandering, be it in money, services, or citizenship.

[Fixit]

What's not to trust?

[Oatka]

Great minds think alike. (spoken with a touch of humility)

I have written the four major airlines and the Transportation Security Administration the same thing, using a gap in security because the airline accepted a Calif. DL as ID (as well as leaving them open to a negligence lawsuit).

I reminded them of that Saudi who tried to open the aircraft door at 30,000+ feet and asked if some guy sitting next to the emergency exit couldn't do the same thing. All some terrorist has to do is pose as "only" an illegal alien, get the license, and ask for a seat near the exit. No bombs, knives, etc. to worry about, the plane supplies it's own method of destruction.

No answer yet but I hope I scared the Hell out of them.

I also asked the Nevada DMV if they will honor Kali's license. Got this from one of their clerks: "I checked with our Management Service Program regarding the new policy and procedure that will be enforced. Nevada will not be accepting certain states drivers licenses as ID cards, because they are more lenient then Nevada so we will be requiring strict documentation when the customer brings in an out of state license. The documents that will be required would be Certified Copy of their birth certificate from the County Clerks office, documentation from Immigration, the stamp of legalization, and so on."

Ask your state DMV to do the same.

[Paulie]

I applaud Mr. Nelson's efforts, but I wonder why exactly does Ridge needs this kind of letter. How come the borders are still as pourous as ever? Why are we still purchasing one drop of oil from the ME?

Seems to me Homeland Security is about as useful to our security as the UN is to world security. Just an observation.