Thread: Driving cards force some tough choices ...

http://www.sltrib.com/search/ci_2624540


Driving cards force some tough choices
For undocumented workers: One longtime resident plans to return to
Mexico rather than give up her driver license
American dream gone: One longtime resident plans to return to Mexico
rather than give up her driver license

By Jennifer W. Sanchez
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune

In 1990, Hilda Werner spent roughly $7,000 to be smuggled into
California, where she and her two young boys ran across the U.S.-
Mexico border in the rain.
She got the money by selling her Mexico City apartment, but it
wasn't enough to bring along her two young daughters. Werner, who
worked as a city bus driver in Mexico, said she wanted to move to
the United States because she heard women had more rights and she
could get a better-paying job.
"I wanted to do better in my country, but they didn't let me do
that," said Werner, an undocumented resident who moved to Utah in
1993. "As a single mom, I wanted to give opportunities to my kids."
But now, 15 years later, she is giving up her American dream and
returning to Mexico because, Werner says, she is tired of working
hard and still being treated like a second-class citizen. The last
straw was Utah's new law that denies a driver license to
undocumented immigrants and provides instead a driving privilege
card.
Among Utah's community of undocumented residents, Werner's
decision might be unusual. But it illustrates the angst and hard
feelings caused by Utah's new law, part of a national trend of anti-
immigrant legislation passed across the country in recent years,
especially after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The new law: The Utah law, prompted by Senate Bill 227, allows
only people with a Social Security number to get a state
identification card or driver license, leaving residents who have a
U.S. visa - and roughly 60,000 undocumented residents - with only
one alternative: If they want to drive legally in Utah, they need to
get a driving card. But the card is not valid as a form of official
identification at any government entity, though some banks and auto
insurance agents are accepting it.
Most supporters of SB227 cited a legislative audit that showed
the state issued roughly 95,000 driver licenses or ID cards to
undocumented U.S. residents from 1999 to 2004. Of those people, 383
registered to vote and 14 allegedly voted in the last election.
A driving card will look similar to a driver license, but instead
of "Utah Driver License" in white lettering, it will say "Utah
Driving Privilege Card" in red, said Jill Laws, the driver license
division's records bureau chief. Driving cards also will
say "Driving privilege only not valid ID for UT govt entity" in red
lettering. Werner, 44, said she is hurt and frustrated that the
state would take away her license even though she has been "a good
person" and driver.
"I have so much dignity. I don't want to get a 'permission' to
drive," she said shaking her head. "I feel like I am being put
down."
Like many other undocumented residents, Werner said her license
makes her feel "secure" and part of the community. Without it,
she'll feel "useless." Werner is scared that people might
discriminate against her if she uses a driving card as a form of
identification to write a check. She said she feels like she doesn't
belong here any longer.
"I used to believe in this country, in the U.S., but not
anymore," Werner said, sitting in the two-bedroom manufactured home
she rents in Davis County. "I don't see a future here," she said.

Around the country: Almost 11 million undocumented people -
including more than 6 million from Mexico - live in the United
States, according to an analysis of U.S. government figures by the
Pew Hispanic Center, a private research group in Washington, D.C.
To try to deal with the steady growth of undocumented workers,
federal and state lawmakers across the nation have approved or are
debating bills that affect the workers and their families.
In Tennessee, a 2004 law provides a certificate of driving for
people who have "temporary, legal documents" from the U.S.
government or for those who can't show proof of U.S. citizenship or
permanent residence.
In Arizona, voters last November approved Proposition 200, which
requires people to show proof that they are legal U.S. residents
when they apply for certain types of state-funded public benefits,
including the state's welfare and energy-assistance programs, and
requires state employees to report undocumented residents to federal
immigration authorities.
In Congress, House Resolution 418, known as the Real ID Act,
would ensure that states require people show proof they are legally
allowed to reside in the United States to get a driver license. It
was approved in the U.S. House and is pending in the Senate.
Barbara Melendez, a BYU immigration-law professor and Salt Lake
City attorney, said several anti-immigration measures are pushed
through by lawmakers and supporters who want to protect U.S. borders
and secure the nation from any other terrorist attacks, but "it's
expanded to such a degree that it's become an anti-immigrant"
environment.
Instead, Melendez said people need to recognize that undocumented
residents work and live here and will always be here because there
will always be jobs for them.
"We can't have blinders on," she said. "Our nation cannot survive
economically if all the immigrants who were in the U.S. illegally
were suddenly deported."
But Barry Hatch, a member of Save America, a Utah anti-illegal
immigration group, said the United States needs to close its borders
and follow federal immigration laws. Undocumented migrants are
breaking the law and should be sent back to their countries, he
said.
Hatch, a 67-year-old retired teacher, said he can't believe the
Legislature passed a law that recognizes undocumented residents and
gives them the right to drive. Without changing and enforcing laws,
he said "illegals" will continue to come to the Unites States to
take advantage of social programs and a free education.
"They're replacing everything we've created. We have a nation to
save, to protect," Hatch said. "The more you give, they'll keep
coming and coming until we don't have any food or money left."
Melendez said she expects more Latino community leaders and
members will get involved in the political process.
"This just means that we all just need to stay on our toes and
make sure we are taking a much more proactive role with lobbying our
legislators," she said.

Getting a driving card: Horacio, a 28-year-old undocumented
immigrant, moved from Mexico with his three brothers to Salt Lake
City 13 years ago. Horacio, who is married and has three kids, got
his Utah driver license about 18 months ago.
"When I got my driver license, I was proud," he said. "I could
drive without having to worry about the police or breaking the law."
Horacio, who gave only his first name, said he is unclear about
the new law, but he will trade in his license for a driving card
because he needs to drive to his two full-time jobs. He works as a
restaurant cook for about $10 an hour.
But he is concerned that the card is being used as a way
to "brand" undocumented workers. He also fears that bank or grocery
store workers might report people with a driving card to immigration
agents.
"With this card, they're going to separate us and know we're
illegal," he said in Spanish.
Despite that, Horacio said there's no way he's going back to
Mexico to raise his family. Here, he has been able to work and get
paid enough to buy a five-bedroom house.
In Mexico, he said, "the way of life is not the same. They don't
pay us well. It's not enough money to live on. Here, everything is
great. By working my two jobs, I have more than enough money to
live."
Werner and her husband plan to leave Utah in May.
She said she doesn't understand why people in Utah seem to hate
immigrants, who she says are just trying to make a better life for
themselves. Werner, who married a U.S. citizen four years ago, said
she is giving up on trying to obtain legal status because of the
long process and confusing paperwork as well as the new anti-
immigrant laws popping up across the country.
"It's too much wait. I don't want to suffer anymore," she
said. "I can't do this anymore."
jsanchez@sltrib.com

Originally Posted by Husker

"I wanted to do better in my country, but they didn't let me do
that," said Werner, an undocumented resident who moved to Utah in
1993. "As a single mom, I wanted to give opportunities to my kids."
But now, 15 years later, she is giving up her American dream and
returning to Mexico because, Werner says, she is tired of working
hard and still being treated like a second-class citizen. The last
straw was Utah's new law ... blah blah blah.

BIG ERROR!

She is NOT treated like a 2nd class citizen.
You have to be a citizen first to get 2nd class citizen treatment.
And how would we be treated in her country?

If she wants to be treated like a citizen then she must become one
just liked every LEGAL immigrant has.

I am a citizen and am treated like 2nd class every time a state or
federal government body give MY rights as a citizen to someone who
came here illegally but demands the same rights that I have.

Also, this woman is a real loser. First, she did not like the rules, so she
ran away and cheated. Now she again does not like the rules, so will
run away again. GOOD RIDDENCE, and take 20 million others WITH you!

H.

Reading this bull bologna makes my blood boil.

'When I got my driver license, I was proud," he said. "I could
drive without having to worry about the police or breaking the law."
Guess what genuis... you broke the law as soon as you crossed the border.

"With this card, they're going to separate us and know we're
illegal," he said in Spanish."
I think that is the point. Come here legally and you won't have to worry.

"Like many other undocumented residents, Werner said her license
makes her feel "secure" and part of the community. Without it,
she'll feel "useless."
You are not useless...you are just a criminal illegal.
Boo hoo hoo.