Immigrant
license bill creates controversy
By
Angelika Meyer
On-line Forty-Niner
The
Senate passed SB60, a bill giving illegal
immigrants the right to obtain a California
driver's license Sept. 3, which will go
into effect Jan. 1, 2004.
"It
sucks that this only happened because of
the recall, but it is one of the more positive
outcomes of the recall," stated Matt
Taylor, rhetorician and director of Forensics.
Under
existing law, people are required to submit
paperwork including a mandatory space to
fill in their social security number. Section
one of the SB60 bill would require the forms
to have an option of identification numbers,
either their social security number, or
federal individual taxpayer identification
number, or other means deemed acceptable
by the department. Existing law also requires
people to show proof that they are authorized
to legally be in the United States. Section
two of the bill repeals this requirement,
but proof of identification is required
so people do not create new identities.
The bill also allows for the Department
of Justice to keep track of who has obtained
a California driver's license, to prevent
people having more than one.
"They'll
[illegal immigrants] be driving anyway,
now they have to take a test in order to
get a driver's license. At least it's somewhat
of a check on poor drivers," said Gavin
Humes, a senior in communication studies
and political science.
When
asked how this bill could affect the state
of California and its citizens, Taylor said,
"I think it takes away an institutional
barrier that has prevented 'illegal' citizens
from getting integrated into the system.
I think that anything that challenges our
sense of borders, immigration policy and
allows people to make their lives better
is a good thing for a state and its citizens."
"It
will make peoples' lives easier. It's already
enough that the system discriminates against
minorities. It makes the lives of immigrants
easier since they make up most of our agricultural
workers, why wouldn't we want them to be
happy?" questioned Usama Kahf, alumni,
and communication studies graduate student.
Since
the driver's license is a valid form of
identification, people are allowed to use
this to purchase airline tickets, relocate
to other states and open bank accounts.
"The
legislation will actually demonstrate to
some of our citizens that their xenophobia
is unwarranted," Taylor said.
Many
people are up in arms about the passage
of SB60. SaveOurLicense.com is one Web site
petitioning for people to put the bill on
hold. With 400,000 signatures the bill would
be delayed, and with 600,000 the bill would
be put on the March 2004 ballot allowing
citizens to vote.
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