Thread: Oregon - Some detour around license law

Some detour around license law

Immigration - People here illegally see Washington as one way to avoid Oregon's new proof-of-residency rules

Monday, March 10, 2008
ESMERALDA BERMUDEZ
The Oregonian

A month after Oregon's new driver's license rules went into effect, illegal immigrants and their advocates already are seeing ways to skirt the law.

Some illegal immigrants and immigrant-rights groups say the most likely approaches are relocating to Vancouver or elsewhere in Washington, where getting a driver's license is easier; carpooling, using public transit or getting rides from friends and family; driving without a license; or remaining in Oregon until current licenses expire, then returning to native countries.

Washington state is one of a handful left nationwide -- and the only state in the Northwest -- where drivers are not required to be in the country legally.

For some Washington legislators who believe issuing driver's licenses has nothing to do with legal status, Oregon's stricter law is of no concern. For others, the move is more reason for Washington to follow Oregon's lead and toughen its laws.

"We're saying, 'We welcome you with open arms. Come to Washington, and we'll take good care of you,' " said Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver. "That worries me."

Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed Oregon's law Feb. 15, but it has been in effect since Feb. 4. Driver and Motor Vehicle Services now must verify Social Security numbers before issuing driver's licenses. Starting in July, applicants must also show documentation, such as a passport or birth certificate, that proves they are legal residents.

For an estimated 175,000 illegal immigrants statewide, the law may drastically change their daily lives or force them to leave the country. For one, a 33-year-old native of Guanajuato, Mexico, living in Canby, it gives her a deadline to decide what to do.

"We have until 2010," said the woman, who declined to be named for fear of being deported. That's when her husband's license expires.

"We say, 'Maybe then we can go to Washington.' But then what do we do? Where do we stay? Here, we have family and support. There, we have nothing."

Washington "a weak link"

Starting over in a new state may not be the easiest solution, but it may be the most popular for illegal immigrants living in Oregon.

A 24-year-old office assistant from Salem, who has been in the United States illegally since she was 4, said she knows "three or four people who are planning to go there to get licenses."

"I may go out there, too, but it's going to be very difficult," said the woman, who asked that her name not be used for fear of being deported.

As an alternative, she and her 27-year-old husband have decided to save money each month to return to Hidalgo, Mexico, by 2015, when his license expires.

In Washington, the Department of Licensing requires a valid Social Security number. But those who have not been issued a number may sign a declaration saying so, and the license will be issued anyway. Proof of legal status is not required.

The department also requires proof of Washington residency, such as a utility bill.

Oregon Rep. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, a key supporter of the Oregon law, said she fears Washington's laws will allow illegal immigrants to keep driving in Oregon.

"I would expect they would go where it's easier," Thatcher said. "Apparently, Washington is going to remain a weak link until they realize they're being used."

Washington Rep. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver, does not see it that way. The state's Democratic Caucus considers driving a safety issue, not an immigration issue, he said.

"It's a red herring," he said. "Some people want to make sure everyone is a legal resident for every damn thing . . . but you should issue a driver's license because they're not blind, they can hear and follow the rules of the road. That's the issue."

Numerous measures to block illegal immigrants from getting driver's licenses have been introduced in Washington's Legislature in previous years, but none made it far because most legislators oppose the idea, said Melinda McCrady, spokeswoman for the House Democratic Caucus.

Washington's Democratic governor, Chris Gregoire, is hopeful that will change, said spokesman Pearse Edwards.

"The governor supports issuing legal documents such as driver's licenses only to those people who are in the country legally," he said, adding that the federal government's lack of action on immigration matters has put states such as Washington under greater pressure to respond.

Benton, the Vancouver senator, applauds Oregon for cracking down on illegal immigrants and said he will push Washington to do the same next session.

"It won't happen unless there's a sea change in the Legislature," he said. "But that doesn't mean I'm not going to try to fight for it."

It's also possible that illegal immigrants in Oregon could falsify a Washington address to get a Washington license. But that's bound to raise flags if they are caught driving in Oregon -- especially if addresses on the vehicle's plates, registration and insurance do not line up, said Sgt. Bob Ray, a Washington County sheriff's spokesman.

"They could try, but it seems like a lot of work and effort," Ray said. "If they get pulled over, how much further ahead are they?"

"One more hurdle"

It may take years to know whether a significant number of illegal immigrants leave Oregon because of the new law.

In the past few months, the Mexican Consulate has fielded more relocation-related inquiries from Mexicans than usual, but that interest does not necessarily mean more Mexicans are returning to Mexico, said David Simon, Portland's acting consul.

"We will see the impact two or three years from now," said Simon, whose office urged Mexican nationals to renew licenses before the new law took effect. "Right now, people are seeing what's happened, but it hasn't hit them yet. It will impact them in the long run."

Some Mexicans are asking the consulate about registering their U.S.-born children with the Mexican government and about menajes de casa, a program that allows Mexican nationals to move their belongings back to Mexico tax-free.

Many have asked about getting Mexican passports and matricula consulares, a form of identification issued to Mexican nationals living abroad. Those may become key documents for illegal immigrants who cannot get driver's licenses.

Mexican passports and matricula consulares are used to open bank accounts, board planes, buy cars and homes, register for school and carry on with other daily business.

Some opponents of illegal immigration say that as fewer immigrants are allowed to drive, perhaps those other activities will be curbed as well.

"This is one more hurdle," said Jim Ludwick, president of Oregonians for Immigration Reform, a group that had lobbied for eight years to change driver's license laws.

"If you want to stop a burglar from going into your house, you put a lock on the door. They could still knock the door down, but it's an inconvenience," he said. "Hopefully, they'll decide to just go home."

Pedro Sosa, a Portland organizer with the American Friends Service Committee, acknowledges that the law affects people who entered the country illegally. But he said most of those people have obeyed Oregon laws and now will be forced "to do things illegally," referring to driving unlicensed.

"It's absurd. It complicates the lives of workers, and it complicates the lives of law enforcement officials," he said.

Ludwick and others are collecting signatures for a petition that will further crack down on the illegal immigrant population. The initiative would require people to present a valid Social Security number before registering to vote and allow state law enforcement to sign up for a federal program that trains local agencies to detect illegal immigrants.

Meanwhile, immigrant advocates plan to ask a future session of the Legislature to issue a driving certificate to those people in the country without authorization.

State legislators have also asked DMV officials to provide annual reports on the law's socio-economic impact. Those studies will track a number of figures, including increases in uninsured drivers and accidents.

www.oregonlive.com

she and her 27-year-old husband have decided to save money each month to return to Hidalgo, Mexico, by 2015, when his license expires.

Some Mexicans are asking the consulate about registering their U.S.-born children with the Mexican government and about menajes de casa, a program that allows Mexican nationals to move their belongings back to Mexico tax-free.

See, it does work, take away the stuff that keeps them here, and they will decide to get themselves together and go home,. Such a simple and CHEAP process for Americans, the illegals pay their own way home with this plan, we do not even have to incarcerate them while they are being deported!!

Washington, better get your game on with this too, or they will be flocking to you all in huge numbers!!!!

Under The Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution:
Thus, a state has no constitutional obligation to recognize driver's licenses from other states. whether states just do it as a matter of "comity," which is to say out of a desire to work well with other states (and to get reciprocity for their own citizens).

I do not want illegal aliens driving in my state on Washington driver's licenses.
Petition your state not to recognize any state's driver's license if they allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.

FYI, the census estimates for 2006 for Washington state is a overall population of 6,395,798, which 9.1% of that being Hispanic, overall it does not show what part of that 9.1 are illegal Hispanics though, but....if they do not put their foot down, I am sure that the numers of illegals in Washington will grow rapidly.

Feeling sorry for Vancouver, they will definitely feel the brunt of it as it is just across the river from the Portland metro area, also nt far from all of the nurseries in my area, where oh so many of them work. However, there are large populations of illegal farther down in the central Willamette valley where the farming and nursery industry is huge, so they will find it hard to commute that far.

I was just in Vancouver, Washington and saw a hand-lettered sign for "Consulado Guatemala." by a freeway exit. Following the signs I found a large crowd (200) of people waiting in line. An English speaking man told me that the consulate had rented the space and that people were renewing their passports. Oh, really? Anyone have any thoughts on this? Why did they put the sign by the I-5 freeway exit just over the bridge from Oregon?

Just trying to get around everything. I-5, well it is one of the main routes and of course even with no cars, these people can take C-Tran, which passes over the I-5 bridge.

Though Captainron, it appears that Washingtons gov, albeit a lib, is taking the same steps as Kulongoski. Although, she is probably hoping to get re-elected. I applaud both anyways, even though they are liberals !!!

Just a few states to go on tightening drivers license qualifications!

Far more likely is that a lot of illegal aliens living in Portland will claim to be living in Vancouver. A handful of people living in Vancouver who have friends in Portland will handle the receipt and reforwarding of their mail.

Very likely Richard. Vancouver is basically a suburb of Portland of sorts, and many work here and live there due to lower property taxes.

However, there is hope that Washingtons gov will do the right thing so they will not become a magnet for illegals and fraud.

Originally Posted by Captainron

I was just in Vancouver, Washington and saw a hand-lettered sign for "Consulado Guatemala." by a freeway exit. Following the signs I found a large crowd (200) of people waiting in line. An English speaking man told me that the consulate had rented the space and that people were renewing their passports. Oh, really? Anyone have any thoughts on this? Why did they put the sign by the I-5 freeway exit just over the bridge from Oregon?

Captainron, may I say that I like how you do things? Who else would think to follow those signs to see what was going on?