Thread: Feds Strike ID Deal Over NY Licenses

Feds Strike ID Deal Over NY Licenses
By DEVLIN BARRETT,
AP
Posted: 2007-10-27 12:49:26
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration and New York agreed Saturday on a compromise creating a more secure driver's license for U.S. citizens and allowing illegal immigrants to get a version.

New York is the fourth state to reach such an agreement, after Arizona, Vermont and Washington. The issue is pressing for border states, where new and tighter rules are soon to go into effect for crossings.

The deal comes about one month after New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced a plan whereby illegal immigrants with a valid foreign passport could obtain a license.

The agreement with the Homeland Security Department will create a three-tier license system in New York, the largest state to sign on so far to the government's post-Sept. 11 effort to make identification cards more secure.

Spitzer, who has faced much criticism on the issue, said the deal means New York "will usher in the most secure licensing system in the nation."

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he was not happy that New York intended to issue IDs to illegal immigrants. But he said there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"I don't endorse giving licenses to people who are not here legally, but federal law does allow states to make that choice," Chertoff said.

New York will produce one ID that will be as secure as a passport and is intended for people who soon will need to meet such requirements, even for a short drive to Canada.

A second version of the license will meet new federal standards of the Real ID Act, a law designed to make it much harder for illegal immigrants or would-be terrorists to obtain licenses.

A third type of license will be available to undocumented immigrants. Spitzer has said this ID will make the state more secure by bringing those people "out of the shadows" and into American society, and by lowering auto insurance rates.

New York has between 500,000 and 1 million undocumented immigrants, many of whom are driving without a license and car insurance or with fake driver's licenses, Spitzer in September when he announced his executive order.

The administration has not finalized standards for Real ID-compliant driver's licenses, but Spitzer said he believed the new licenses would meet those standards or come very close.

Many states have complained it is far too expensive to comply with the new law. Neither the governor nor Chertoff would say how much it would cost to put the system in place or who would pay for it.

On the Net:

Homeland Security Department background on Real ID: http://tinyurl.com/yoeo9w

N.Y. Governor's Office: http://www.ny.gov/governor/

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
10/27/07 12:48 EDT


http://news.aol.com/story/_a/feds-strik ... 4909990007

What is the incentive for illegals to come forward to get this "3rd tier" license? With it they will have to prove where they are making them traceable, pay for a license and pay for insurance. Why would they do that?
Why would they take a chance? There's nothing in it for them.
How does that make the roads safer and lower the cost of insurance?
Spitzer has said repeatedly that he can prove the cost savings, but has yet to make that information public.
If I'm not mistaken, though, this should at least help with the voter fraud issue.

Originally Posted by WesternMA

If I'm not mistaken, though, this should at least help with the voter fraud issue.

that is yet to be seen. I am against illegals getting any benefits here in the USA and that includes driving privileges.

Added to home page with comments
http://www.alipac.us/article2678.html

See this thread on the home page forums for many more articles from national and NY State news sources on this topic:

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-88359.html

"I don't endorse giving licenses to people who are not here legally, but federal law does allow states to make that choice," Chertoff said.

Sure everybody has a choice to violate our law, but Spitzer must be charged with abetting under existing statutes. And as long as your department picks up all holders of these licenses it won't be a problem.

"I don't endorse giving licenses to people who are not here legally, but federal law does allow states to make that choice," Chertoff said.

So I guess I need a matricula card and I'll become an "undocumented driver." Oh no, but that would be criminal of me. Shove your Real ID.

Originally Posted by WesternMA

What is the incentive for illegals to come forward to get this "3rd tier" license? With it they will have to prove where they are making them traceable, pay for a license and pay for insurance. Why would they do that?
Why would they take a chance? There's nothing in it for them.

Right. At least they would be registered as illegal and we would have their fingerprints etc. No trying to get another one with another identification.

I don't see how Spitzer's actions would not be in violation of "aiding and abetting".

Excerpts of Aiding and Abetting Laws and links

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/sear ... -000-.html

Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii)

"Any person who . . . encourages or induces an alien to . . . reside . . . knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such . . . residence is . . . in violation of law, shall be punished as provided . . . for each alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs . . . fined under title 18 . . . imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both."


http://www.uscis.gov/propub/ProPubVAP.j ... 6648558dbe

Section 274 felonies under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A):
A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:
* assists an alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or
* encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or
* knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.

Perhaps the senate people can have him arrested under that statute. Wouldn't that be something.