Thread: Cumberland County wrestles with giving undocumented immigrants licenses

Posted: Friday, September 11, 2015 8:02 pm

THOMAS BARLAS Staff Writer

For the Rev. Vincent Guest, the issue of giving driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants is one of humanity and family, rather than politics.

Guest is pastor of the Parish of the Holy Cross in Bridgeton, where he said undocumented immigrants regularly drive in fear of getting stopped for a traffic violation.

“They fear they’re putting their family at risk,” Guest said. “They worry about being deported. They worry it will break up the family. We certainly want to prevent that from happening.”

But the recent decision by Cumberland County’s freeholders to also support the idea — action prompted in part by support from Guest — created a sort of political jumble of Republicans and Democrats. Their support and denunciation of the proposal isn’t along party lines, and even includes agreement between usually contrary state office candidates.

The freeholders voted 4-1 on Aug. 25 to support two bills in the Legislature that would allow undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses. The measure had the support of one Republican and three Democratic freeholders.

The freeholders contend distributing those licenses will improve highway safety and make it easier for undocumented immigrants to get to work and take their children to school. They also argue it provides the immigrants with an identification document that could help them rent a decent place to live.

The vote prompted quick opposition. Current and would-be Republican and Democratic state officials from the 1st Legislative District, which includes most of Cumberland County, denounced the freeholders’ action.

The divide is not by political party, but rather level of government, and it also occurs during an election year, when seats in the Assembly are up for reelection.

The opposition also comes despite support for the proposal from local governments that include Bridgeton and Vineland Mayor Ruben Bermudez.

“Driver’s licenses must be reserved only for those who have the legal status to live and work in our country,” state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak, and Assembly candidate Bruce Land, all Democrats, said in a statement.

“At the very core, we are a nation of laws, and those laws must be followed,” the Democrats said. “We strongly disagree with our freeholders’ decision to act on a resolution that runs counter to the laws of our nation.”

The condemnation from Republicans was equally to the point.

“We won’t fix the immigration mess in this country by rewarding illegal behavior,” said Assemblyman Sam Fiocchi and Assembly candidate James Sauro. “This will only incentivize more undocumented workers to pour over our borders in violation of our laws.

“How can we make our own citizens jump through hoops to receive a driver’s license and then give them away to people who openly flout our immigration laws?” the Republicans said.

Fiocchi and Sauro have an online petition seeking to have the supporting resolution repealed. The petition, which can be found at www.repealtheresolution.com, will be presented to the freeholders during their Sept. 22 meeting.

Sauro is also a county freeholder and the only board member to vote against the supporting resolution, which was sponsored by his two fellow Republican freeholders, only one of whom was present for the vote.

“This is a slap in the face to those people who did it right,” Sauro said in explaining his vote. “I just don’t think it’s fair to them for all the things they had to do.”

Sauro said undocumented immigrants must face the reality of their actions.

“They made the decision to come here illegally,” he said. “They have to realize that we have laws. If you don’t like the law, change the law, but don’t skirt the law.”

The freeholders weren’t the only Cumberland County entity to support the proposal: Bridgeton city government backed the measures in April. Vineland’s Mayor Bermudez also supports the plan.

When asked if he was surprised by the reaction to the freeholders’ vote, Bridgeton Mayor Albert Kelly said, “Not really.”

“They represent a more conservative base of voters, and they’re responding to what they feel their constituents are supporting,” Kelly said. “I feel as though we’re representing the needs of Bridgeton.”

Kelly said about 45 percent of Bridgeton’s population is Hispanic and “largely undocumented.”

“They’re driving, anyhow,” he said of undocumented immigrants. “If there is a way we can have our illegal immigrants go through the proper licensing procedures, our Police Department would know who they are and their real addresses. Documentation would help public safety.”

The freeholders also are backing the driver’s license proposal because of economics.

Immigrants, and particularly Hispanics, for decades have worked the fields of Cumberland County’s farms. Seven of the 55 businesses in the county with at least 100 workers involve farm operations, with almost 1,500 employees, according to Cumberland County government.

The freeholders also contend in their supporting resolution that immigrants have “significantly driven” small businesses in the county, and bring new investments to county neighborhoods and commercial corridors.

Guest, who worked to gain support for the proposed measures from the freeholders and Bridgeton officials, said he understands opposition to the proposal.

“The people who think that are not bad people,” he said.

Guest said part of his perspective on helping the immigrants also comes from his family.

“They’re here for the same reason that my grandparents came over from Ireland,” he said. “They want to make a better life for their children.”

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/n...96f531ff1.html

"wrestle" why? Why are you dumb people "wrestling" with whether or not to give drivers licenses to people who should be arrested and removed from the United States??!! WHAT is WRONG WITH YOU?!

Oh, wait a minute, I see what the problem is:

For the Rev. Vincent Guest, the issue of giving driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants is one of humanity and family, rather than politics.

Guest is pastor of the Parish of the Holy Cross in Bridgeton, where he said undocumented immigrants regularly drive in fear of getting stopped for a traffic violation.

“They fear they’re putting their family at risk,” Guest said. “They worry about being deported. They worry it will break up the family. We certainly want to prevent that from happening.”

But the recent decision by Cumberland County’s freeholders to also support the idea — action prompted in part by support from Guest — created a sort of political jumble of Republicans and Democrats. Their support and denunciation of the proposal isn’t along party lines, and even includes agreement between usually contrary state office candidates.

The freeholders voted 4-1 on Aug. 25 to support two bills in the Legislature that would allow undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses. The measure had the support of one Republican and three Democratic freeholders.

Oh, the illegal aliens worry about being deported. Isn't that so sad? Poor illegal aliens in our country in violation of US immigration law stealing jobs from Americans, deflating wages, stealing welfare, stuffing our schools with their kids, using the emergency rooms, dropping anchor babies, running up our taxes or debt to pay for it all, are worried they MIGHT BE DEPORTED, so therefore, they need drivers licenses to flee the law I guess and make a fast get away.

Oh, the poor pastor, he wants to help immigrants because his grandparents are immigrants from Ireland. Oh you silly stupid lying fool. My grandmother's mother came over from Ireland. What in the hell does that have to do with illegal aliens? What you want is that drug money flowing into your church coffers every Sunday. Do you think we're idiots? Well, we're not, and your political activities should disqualify your church from 501 C 3 tax exempt tax fraud "charity" status. And I'll bet if Trump wins, he'll enforce that code to the letter and verse and yank your status, as he should.