Drivers License To An Illegal Immigrant example essay topic

Keisha Hunter Vice Composition II Section 106 September 16, 2003 California, Illegal Immigrants and State Issued Drivers Licenses America has a long history of immigrants flocking to its prosperous shores. People whom enter this country seeking a new life fall into one of two groups: Illegal Immigrants or Legal Immigrants, it is the latter group which is of concern. While legal immigrants are processed and documented through the Immigration and Naturalization Service, illegal immigrants pass through our borders undetected. In an effort to gain some semblance of control in the issue of illegal immigration and its effect on citizens as a whole, a debate regarding whether or not to issue a drivers license to an illegal immigrant has emerged. This heated debate recently reached its pinnacle and was put to the test before the California state legislature. California SB 60, a bill sponsored by Senator Gil Cedillo, calls for illegal immigrants to receive a drivers license with use of a federal tax identification number or other form of state approved documentation.

September 5, 2003 Gov. Gray Davis signed this bill into law. This law and the general sentiment behind it, while well intentioned, breeds concerns that reach beyond a driver behind the wheel. This is a pandora's box that can threaten the comfort of the American people. There are harms that come from granting illegal immigrants access to an instrument that Americans have come to trust. Illegal immigrants should not be eligible to receive a state issued drivers license. From a safety standpoint, allowing an illegal immigrant to receive a drivers license is not prudent in this post 9/11 era.

Proponents of illegal immigrant licensing, state that two million or more illegal immigrants are driving the roads today. It is their argument that the roads will be safer, if illegal immigrants receive a drivers license as they would then qualify for auto insurance. The theory is that with more illegal aliens covered by insurance there will be a drop in hit and run accidents, thus improving road safety. This sentiment is shared in particular by the agricultural trade associations according to Louie Brown, their attorney. Safety is an important dynamic, however, this is a case of the cons outweighing the pros. California Democrats contend that this measure will improve public safety by ensuring that all drivers pass a driving exam.

Yet, Senator Gil Cedillo concedes that only as many as 1 million of the undocumented immigrants would in fact be eligible for the licenses. There is no guarantee that this target group of illegal immigrants whom have discreetly entered into this country and blended into American life, will voluntarily step forward to become "documented". According to the INS, in 2002 alone, there were less than 130,000 applications for permanent residency in all of California, Hawaii, Nevada and Arizona. Given these figures, it does not seem prudent to pass legislation that may honestly benefit only a small group of people and at the same time stand on the books as a loophole in immigration law that can be exploited by the masses. Since September 11, 2001, when the United States experienced terrorist attacks on its own soil, security has been thrust into the spotlight...

Ironically, the law that was signed nearly two years to the day of the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, exploits the same vulnerability that was formerly present in Virginia. At issue and in plain common sense is the concealment of identity. Americas vulnerability to and failure to limit access to illegal immigrants is key in the attacks. Seven of the terrorists that committed the terrorist attacks obtained false Virginia drivers licenses as identification.

They were able to do this due to Virginia's former laws which allowed candidates to obtain a drivers license without verifiable proof of identity. In turn these drivers licenses were used to obtain the airline tickets which granted them access to their weapon of choice, commercial airplanes. This places extreme scrutiny on the importance of ensuring that drivers license recipients are legally and rightfully qualified. The federal tax identification which will be required for the illegal immigrants to secure a drivers license is issued without the necessity of a social security number. Without a means to verify the true identity do we know exactly whom that recipient is?

There is more at risk than potential airline hijacking. The very fabric of the nation is exposed. Asa Hutchins of the US Department of Homeland Security has implied that allowing illegal immigrants to poses a state issued drivers license puts an extra burden on border inspectors whom utilize the ID's to identify rightful United States citizens. This exacerbates an already daunting task of controlling the natural borders of the United States. Also at issue is the right to vote. In most states all that is required to obtain a voters registration card is a drivers license.

Undeniably, voter fraud is a

Bibliography

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web Davis, Gray. To Members of the California Assembly: AB 1463 Assembly Bill Veto. California: Publication 99-00.29 Sept. 2003 web Fox 40 KT XL "Assebly Oks Bill Allowing Illegals to Get Drivers' Licenses".
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com. with contributions by The Associated Press "Davis Urged to Approve Driver's Licenses for Illegal Immigrants". NBCSandiego. com 26 Sept. 2002 web NBCSandiego.
com. with contributions by The Associated Press "Assebly OK's Driver's Licenses for Illegal Immigrants". NBCSandiego. com 3 Sept. 2003 web NBCSandiego.
com. with contributions by The Associated Press "SB 60 Supporters Rally in Mission Valley". NBCSandiego. com 7 Sept. 2003 web.