Thread: Senate Okays Bill to Allow Licenses to Undocumented Immigran

http://www.news10.net/storyfull1.asp?id=11262


Senate Okays Bill to Allow Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants


One of the biggest controversies in recent California political history reignited Thursday as the state Senate approved a bill that would allow illegal immigrants in California to receive driver's licenses.

The bill authored by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, was passed by the Senate on a 22-16 vote, sending it to the California Assembly.

The latest proposal over the contentious issue is linked to the new federal REAL ID Act. The law signed by President George W. Bush last month requires states to verify whether someone applying for a driver's license is in the U.S. legally.

The REAL ID Act, which goes into effect in 2008, also allows states the option of issuing illegal immigrants "driving only" licenses.

The federal mandate requires those cards to be easily identifiable as a "driving only" license that could not be used for driving out of state, boarding an airplane or other official identification purposes.

Supporters of Cedillo's bill said licenses will encourage illegal immigrants to get driver training and insurance. Opponents argue the bill uses federal law as a loophole to further Cedillo's continuing effort to give licenses to illegal residents.

The vote is the latest step in the ongoing state battle over the issue. In 2003, former Gov. Gray Davis signed a driver's license bill into law for the state's estimated two million undocumented residents. Davis' support of the bill became a major bone of contention during the gubernatorial recall effort and the law was repealed by the state legislature following his ouster.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger led the charge to have the 2003 law repealed, but said he would work with Cedillo on a plan to offer licenses that did not compromise national security. Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar 2004 Cedillo bill, citing inadequate security precautions.

Schwarzenegger has not commented on the latest legislation.

Story created 6/2/2005 - 5:40 PM Last updated 6/3/2005 - 11:45 AM

The REAL ID Act, which goes into effect in 2008, also allows states the option of issuing illegal immigrants "driving only" licenses.

So the illegals can still drive and we will know that they are illegal but that wont help get them deported. The Real ID is a Joke on Americans.