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Subscribe to RSSIllinois may soon become the most populous U.S. state to grant a form of driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, after the nation's growing Hispanic population boosted the power of Democrats in national and state elections on November 6.
A bipartisan group of Illinois politicians announced on Tuesday they would propose such a law when the legislature convenes on November 27.
Washington state and New Mexico are the only states that currently allow illegal immigrants to get licenses. Utah allows driving permits. As the fifth most populous state, Illinois would be the biggest state to adopt such a law.
A California law that allows immigrants with federal work permits to receive driver's licenses will take effect January 1, 2013.
Supporters said the law would be good for public safety, allowing Illinois immigrant motorists to get tested on their driving skills and buy insurance.
"When you have a quarter of a million undocumented drivers on the road, it's definitely a safety concern," said Ron Holmes, spokesman for Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, who is backing the measure along with fellow Democrats Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar, a popular Republican, joined Democrats at a news conference in Chicago Tuesday to support the idea, as did Republican State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. It also has the support of the powerful House Speaker, Chicago Democrat Michael Madigan, giving it a good chance of passage.
The drive to pass the law follows the re-election of Democratic President Barack Obama, Democratic gains in the U.S. Senate and in the Illinois legislature with strong Hispanic support.
Since 2010, a handful of Republican-led states, notably border state Arizona, passed laws cracking down on illegal immigrants. But after this year's election, which saw an estimated 66 percent of Hispanics vote for Obama, Democrats and Republicans have said they want to work on an overhaul of federal immigration law.
Illinois, like California, elected a veto-proof Democratic supermajority in the legislature this month, with Democrats now controlling all branches of government.
Unlicensed, uninsured drivers are involved in almost 80,000 accidents in Illinois each year, resulting in $660 million in damage, according to the Illinois Highway Safety Coalition. Unlicensed immigrant drivers cost $64 million in damage claims alone.
The Safety Coalition said on its website that since New Mexico made the change in 2003, the rate of uninsured motorists fell from 33 percent to under 9 percent.
New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, a Republican, has fought to outlaw such licenses since she took office in January 2011. She has argued that the state's law encouraged people to come to New Mexico from other states just to obtain driver's licenses.
Holmes said supporters of the Illinois measure are talking with law enforcement officials to make sure a license for undocumented immigrants would not be used for fraud.
The measure would expand to undocumented immigrants Illinois' existing temporary visitor driver's license, used by legal immigrants. The licenses are "visually distinct" from ordinary licenses, with a purple background and the words "not valid for identification" on the front, explained Lawrence Benito, chief executive of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
"This is a practical, commonsense approach," said Benito. He said supporters have been talking with Republicans in the legislature to try to get their support.
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the number of Latinos in Illinois was over 2 million, or nearly 16 percent of the population.
Republicans in Illinois who have objected to the proposed law in the past could not be reached for comment.
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And stop with the "undocumented" crap. THEY ARE ILLEGAL ALIENS. And need to be deported.
The concept of 'illegal' is valid ONLY when the 'Powers of Justice' want it to be.
Look down the road in this country................the floodgates of 'illegal immigration' will slowly, but definitely explode wide open in the near future. One state at a time. This country will never be the way most of us remember it. Sad.
I saw this the other day and it made me laugh.
Have some compassion..after all who do you think is doing all the menial jobs that you people refuse to do..you can't have it both ways..get a grip people you are now officially the minority..get use to it..
heavenandearth - you are really ignorant regarding the jobs held by 8+ million illegal aliens.
Of that
1.749 Million - Construction
1.381 Million - Leisure & Hospitality
1.104 Million - Manufacturing
1.099 Million - Professional & Business Services
946K - Wholesale & Retail Trade
507K - Education & Health Services
551K - Other
314K - Agrigulture
289K - Transportation & Utilities
73K - Financial Activities
18K - Mining
pewhispanic.org/files/reports/107.pdf
Passing mandatory e-verify legislation would eliminate illegals from jobs. Without jobs and a way to support themselves, they would self deport and leave the jobs (7+ million non-agricultural jobs) for America's unemployed workers.
Illinois should look at New Mexico and see what has happened. Just yesterday, the local news reported the arrest of three Polish men who had rented a short-term apartment in New Mexico so they could apply for a driver's license. They had already gotten an Individual Taxpayer Number from the IRS so they could apply for the license. They were caught because an employee at the DMV noticed they all had the same address. This kind of thing goes on all the time in NM. There are regular reports of people from out of state and out of the country getting caught trying to get driver's licenses here.
A few months back there was an article on Fox News Latino (9-12-12) that stated that the law allowing foreign nationals who live in the US in violation of immigration laws to get driver's licenses had not had the intended effect. In other words, there has been no decrease in the number of uninsured drivers. According to the report, in "2000 before the law took effect, 26.3 percent of New Mexico drivers were uninsured." "By 2008...the number had jumped to 29.5 percent". By 2009 the number had dropped to 25.7 percent. In total a drop of less than 1 percent.
The only thing this kind of legislation does is make it easier for foreign nationals to live in the USA while essentially thumbing their noses at our laws. It makes it easier for them to rent apartments, open bank accounts, send their children to school. In other words, it makes it easier for them to get all the advantages of life in the US without the penalties. How is that a good thing?
At the same time, US citizens, especially those who value the rule of law and follow it are getting screwed because their auto insurance premiums go up to cover these drivers, their property taxes go up to pay for education for the children of these foreign nationals and the quality of their schools and neighborhoods go down because they are being populated by people from the third world who don't understand the community norms of a first world country.
It is a shame that the United States is going downhill so fast. Republicans as well as Democrats REFUSE to enforce Federal Immigration Laws. George Bush, one of the worst Presidents the United States has ever seen, wanted OPEN Borders with Mexico. Obama wont do anything serious about Illegals, now, we have states that are catering to these Law Breakers. The United States is doomed. We the people need to stand up and be counted and let our crooked politicians know that we are watching them. All of the current politicians who vote to give anything to Illegals need to be replaced. The United States needs to have a round-up like Texas has never seen. I am all for Immigration, BUT NOT Illegal Immigration. Illegals need to go.
The concept of 'illegal' is valid ONLY when the 'Powers of Justice' want it to be.
Look down the road in this country................the floodgates of 'illegal immigration' will slowly, but definitely explode wide open in the near future. One state at a time. This country will never be the way most of us remember it. Sad.
The concept of 'illegal' is valid ONLY when the 'Powers of Justice' want it to be.
Look down the road in this country................the floodgates of 'illegal immigration' will slowly, but definitely explode wide open in the near future. One state at a time. This country will never be the way most of us remember it. Sad.
Nothing matters anymore Obama is in . Its over... No rule no respect for law and its people. We're screwed.Go to bed pull up the covers and wait out 4 more yrs.
Go go Chicago! Now you'll be the magnet for all illegals. You think you're poor now, just wait until the welfare recipients show up for a hand out with their new ID's. They'll crush your healthcare system as well.
What part of illegal does the government not understand? It's illegal to steal, murder, rape and all kinds of terrible things that the government tries and sends those who do illegal things to jail. But "illegal" aliens the government caters to them. Hope they all move to Illinois the next state over and get out of mine.
This is a bunch of bull. I have a great idea, let's give the illegals the whole country. Let's shame all the people who came here and went through the proper channels to become citizens. I give up.
Recently a semi truck driver wrecked his rig in PA. When questioned by the media what went wrong he said,"I no speak english." Speaking english is a requirement to obtain a license in the U.S. If they say they can't speak english then it's dam sure they can't read it. So it's pretty good probability that he did'nt have a license. Illinois better make dam sure these illegals can read and write the english language and not just enough to past their dam driving exam.
Soooo.... you can give them drivers liceneses but you still won't tax them??? Hmmm.... WTF is wrong with that picture.
America to get out of the deficit... tax the illegals... Since the U.S. refuses to deport anyone, then tax them like the rest of America.
Tired of people living here completely free, with everything handed over to them, while I bust my ass and get taxed worse than a millionaire. Hmmm? Doesn't make much sense.
Deport them. Do not entertain ANY solution that involves them staying here.
So now illegal aliens not only have "rights" and "entitlements" they are "privileged" for breaking the law. Before we know it they will be running our government, oh that's right, they already are. I smell smoke.....
Funny how the "states rights" proponents are all up in arms about a state exercising it's own rights when it's a right they don't agree with.
Coming soon to a red state near you "Gay Marriage"!!!
Democracy is a bitch, huh??
You're right. Democracy IS a bitch. But we are Republic which means we are supposed to be ruled by law instead of the majority. But, of course I wouldn't expect you to know the difference. Obviously, neither do half of the flaming idiots that are supposed to be enforcing the law.
What a joke. Our gov't accommodates everyone, except the average American Citizen! As a middle-class guy I have to work hard to keep what I have and go by the rules and laws of the land. This pisses me off immensely.
Obama and other dem's have made it a point to secure the latino vote. Thus, making it impossible for anyone, other than a democrat to win office as President. You give people stuff, they back you. That's why lobbying works.
You can't install a lightbulb without a union worker, but it's ok to give a DL to an illegal!
Either we have Immigrations Laws or we don't. If someone is in this country illegally and is undocumented you don't give them rights which are not due to them.
Have they gone completly Nuts? Doesn't anyone in our Government Understand what the word ILLEGAL means. What a bunch of Damned Crack pots the people have voted into office. The Mayor of chicago was voted into office for one reason, he is Hispanic. And this is the future of our country. Big greedy business looking for cheap labor, and politicians looking for votes has turned our once beautiful country into a third world country.
There has been a separation of logic and state here. If someone tries to renew their license with too many parking tickets, they are arrested. But renew your license as an ILLEGAL immigrant.....no problem.
I just don't get it, we have illegal immigrants running around this country flaunting their status by even wearing t-shirts declaring their illegal status and they want rights! Even after the re-election a bunch of illegal immigrants marched on Washington to make sure Obama fulfills his promises. Um....they are ILLEGAL, arrest them, send them back! Let them come into the country through the legal process! Why is everyone so afraid to put their foot down and say get out, come back later when you follow the laws!?
Smart way to tell who is illegal..
Yes, Drivers Licenses, Chauffeur Licenses, CDL'S, Food Stamps, Gov't housing, free education K-12, Free school lunch, In-state tuition for college. Its a cornucopia of free stuff. How about a free cellphone and free minutes every month. Its all yours. Do not worry, the door is always open and don't forget to vote.
Only US Citizens can vote.
You have to ask yourself the question "why?" And then think of the possible answers. The answer that jumps to the forefront is "future votes". Don't forget Illinois is the land of Obama (allegedly), Rohm Emmanuel, Daly and Jimmy Hoffa....oh, and Al Capone. A who's who of political skulduggery.
To all the republicans selling out, you should be ashamed. What's the point of being elected if you don't stick to your ideals and values. I don't want you in office if this is the only way to win an election.
Great idea. Illegal immigration has to be addressed, no doubt about that, but that has to happen at the Federal level. In the meantime, the states have to find ways to deal with the effects of illegal immigration in practical terms.
Ensuring that everyone on the road is properly trained and insured is just a practical solution of a very important problem. Driver licenses were never supposed to be a proof of legal residence, it's wrong to try to turn them into that.
As a former Army Officer and current corporate Program Manager, I understand that sometimes you have to find creative solutions to difficult problems. So there is part of me that understands why you wouldnt want to have millions of illegal drivers on the road. The other part of me is wondering why have immigration laws at all if we are not going to punish those who violate them. I don't know what the solution is, but this shouldn't be it. No country that I have ever lived in has gone out of their way to accomodate those who are here illegally like this one does.
Isn't the key word here "illegal"? How does anyone who is here illegally have the right to anything? There needs to be massive change to the immigration policies so that the people who are here illegally and work are put into a system where they can be taxed and if you are not working here, you are deported.
So why do I have to provide a passport, birth certificate, ssn card etc, etc, to get a license? WTF? If a police officer asks I have to provide ID. Illegals no. WTF? I have to provide picture ID to vote. Others no. WTF? Why have ID's anymore?
Is it because I'm white? I don't @!$%#ing understand.
The U.S. is now a Colored mans and Illegal Immigrants dream come true. For White people it has become a Nightmare. Welcome to the new U.S. that won't last another One hundred years.
Tarzan
U.S. as in United States? That will not last another 5 years. This third world president that just got re-elected has sewn the seeds. This country WILL split now-has too. There are too many people that will NOT accept the third world way of life. The day they come to take our guns away is when it starts. obama has already started that process with the UN. They will loose.
Calm down, chicken littles. The Republic will be fine. It may not look and function the way it does now, but that is to be expected. It used to be legal to own other human beings and illegal for people who didn't own land and women to vote. Once we didnt have a continuous standing Army and there were no income taxes. Alcohol was illegal and racial segregation was legal. Over times, things change, but the Republic has endured. It will slowly become a place no longer dominated solely by heterosexual, white males, but the same will be true for the rest of the world.