Debate Continues over licensing Illegals to Drive

Foxnews.com ^ | 01-29-02 | AP

[a_federalist]

Some lawmakers are coming up with an innovative solution for solving the problem of illegal immigrants driving on America's roads: They want to license them so they are no longer driving illegally.

Utah, North Carolina, and Tennessee are among a handful of states where lawmakers are proposing allowing 9 million illegal immigrants to obtain licenses. Supporters of the proposals argue that licensing illegals will force them to learn the rules of the road and sign up for auto insurance.

[Fresh Wind]

We haven't reached the point where we must buy the illegals an auto but a prudent driver already buys them insurance.

How true. But when the Government starts paying for their insurance directly, will our uninsured motorists coverage go down? Not likely. So then we will be paying twice!

In PA, the state already has a program whereby the state will pay for a welfare-to-work person to buy a car, and then pay for two years of insurance and two years of repairs to the car. Chances are most illegals are already on welfare, or would be if they could get "papers" (i.e. drivers license), so a free car and insurance for illegals is a very small, incremental step.

[Irene Adler]

"This is not about driving or insurance. It is about creating defacto citizenship."

This nails it.

[texson66]

"There's wholesale paranoia of parts of the immigrant population," Mobley said.

They wouldn't have these feelings of paranoia IF THEY JUST WENT BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM!!!

[Xenalyte]

The most amazing fact about this article is in the headline, i.e. the debate continues.

What you said. WHAT debate? Illegal is illegal. I've had friends go through the naturalization process (Polish, Mexican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan and Honduran), and they're liable to turn out to be better Americans than I am. They looked on American citizenship as a privilege to be worked toward - I guess the way we think of a college degree, or a really nice home or car.

What they did NOT do was subvert or circumvent any laws. They did it legally, dotting the Is and crossing the Ts, and found ways around every stupid roadblock our bureaucracy put in their way.

Our government blocks those who take the effort to become truly good citizens, and entertains legislation like this article discusses to reward those who won't.

I expect more of my country.

[Movemout]

I guess you are bound and determined to be disappointed.

[skeeter]

Our leadership have lost their collective minds.

Whats really depressing is we keep re-electing them.

[skeeter]

Let's devote some of this pent up frustration to identifying one high profile pro-illegal immigrant politician - in each state - and kick his or her arse out of their seat. Then see what the rest of their fellow travelers do.

If there's one thing politicians do not have in abundance its the courage of their convictions.

[carton253]

Totally agree with you!

An illegal alien is illegal and therefore should not be given any rights here in America. That goes for health care, welfare, and jobs. Maybe, if our leaders would actually make it illegal for the aliens and the employers, then our public assistance infrastructure would not be overwhelmed and the aliens would not come over.

Our country is being overwhelmed. Gutless politicians, seeking their own ambition (and the votes of the hispanic community) will lose this nation. It isn't prejudice that makes me say this. I like people from Mexico... but illegal aliens are pulling this country down -- mostly from a financial view point.

To pay for them, the government will have to keep coming to the tax payer. I don't know about you, but I can't afford them.

[Brownie74]

Some lawmakers are coming up with an innovative solution for solving the problem of illegal immigrants driving on America's roads: They want to license them so they are no longer driving illegally.

This is a laughable statement. Somehow the logic escapes me. As one FReeper put it - if we make robbing a bank legal, there won't be any bank robbers. LOL!!

Thanks for the ping.

[SpookBrat]

It IS laughable. No logic at all. I can't imagine it helping the road safety issue either. Those of us who have lived overseas know how crazy they all drive. LOL I'm not opposed to legal immigrants driving here, as long as they obey our laws and pass a test. Illegal immigrants need to be sent home. OK, I'm not laughing any more. This is outrageous.

[a_federalist]

"It is about creating defacto citizenship. "

Yes, it is.

[a_federalist]

"When is America going to wake up to this?"

I have read of poll after poll that shows immigration both illegal and legal is a top concern of the majority of Americans.
You have to wonder, if politicians, being the poll worshipers that they are, are not heeding the voters' concerns what exactly is behind this political push to keep immigration going?
That there is some ulterior motivation behind it is obvious from the fact they keep packing them in, even though American citizens want it to stop.

[a_federalist]

Well yes. I'd be paranoid too, if I was living in a country illegally.
The way the government is pandering to the illegals though, pretty soon they'll get over it and start thinking they deserve all the special treatment and perks the politicos are handing over to them.

[aomagrat]

This isn't about licensing drivers. Remember motor-voter? It's about registering voters.

[a_federalist]

"They want to license them so they are no longer driving illegally."

"This is a laughable statement. Somehow the logic escapes me. "

Me too. It's as if they're saying "well it's okay you're here illegally, but we draw the line at driving illegally.
Illegal is illegal.

[tiki]

In NM all you need to get a driver's license is a foriegn one. It is easier for an alien to get a driver's license than for an American citizen who has lost one. I know, I had to show my birth certificate and my SS card, anyone with a foriegn license doesn't.

[a_federalist]

Yes that too. I do remember. In fact it was reading about that here on FR that first alerted me to what was really going on. When I first heard of FR my big concerns were property rights and the destruction of the fourth amendment.
I'm still concerned with those issues, but thanks(?) to FR I've added a whole lot of other concerns to the list, including immigration reform.

[a_federalist]

That's just wrong. How do they verify those licenses are valid and not forgeries? Sounds like a great place for terrorists to go to if they need some American id.

[tiki]

Pretty outrageous isn't it.