Thread: OR: Nurseries object to driver's license order

Nurseries object to driver's license order
Tighter driver license rule will lead to problems, group says

11/23/2007 6:00:00 AM
Mitch Lies, Capital Press

The Oregon Association of Nurseries has joined immigration-rights activists in opposing Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski's executive order to tighten identity requirements for driver's licenses.

The order, signed Nov. 16, will present problems for farmers and farmworkers and lead to more uninsured and untrained drivers on Oregon's roads, said John Aguirre, executive director of the Oregon Association of Nurseries.

A significant percentage of Oregon's estimated 175,000 undocumented immigrants work in farm labor.

Kulongoski said he signed the order because Oregon has become a magnet for people trying to illegally obtain driver's licenses.

Oregon is among seven states that do not require proof of legal presence for motorists to obtain a driver's license.

Under the order, which still needs to be adopted by the Oregon Transportation Commission, the Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division would require driver's license applicants to present a valid Social Security number if they have one and additional identification such as a passport, birth certificate, resident card, tribal identification card or driver's license from another state.

The new requirements stop short of requiring proof of legal presence, as called for in the Real ID Act that Oregon lawmakers shied away from adopting last session. It would, however, in cases where a Social Security number is used, require DMV to verify the number is legitimate.

Kulongoski's actions were praised by House Democrats, who in mid-October urged the governor to tighten identification requirements for Oregon driver's licenses after learning illegal immigrants were coming to Oregon solely to obtain driver's licenses.

"It will begin the process of ensuring that Oregon's driver license system is not used for fraudulent purposes by unscrupulous people seeking to take advantage of the process," House Majority Leader Dave Hunt, D-Gladstone, said.

Aguirre, however, questioned the need for the order.

"We don't see from a policy perspective it was necessary for the governor to do this at this time," he said.

"Without question, we don't condone or support lax oversight or mishandling the issuance of drivers' licenses or security lapses," Aguirre said. "It's appropriate to ensure licenses aren't fraudulently issued. But we don't see evidence that immigrant farmworkers are kingpins of criminal enterprises."

Aguirre said any attempt to address illegal immigration on a piecemeal basis is destined to create unintended consequences. He called on Kulongoski to push Congress for comprehensive immigration reform - particularly now that the governor shifted the playing field.

"If the governor moves forward with these kinds of aggressive steps, it's incumbent upon the governor to push for and demand action by Congress to resolve this point," he said.

Ramon Ramirez, president of the farmworker union Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United, which is known by its Spanish acronym PCUN, said the failure of Congress to act on immigration reform last summer magnifies the negative consequences surrounding Kulongoski's executive order.

"If Congress had acted responsibly and passed comprehensive immigration reform, this policy would not have the negative impact it does today on the health and vitality of Oregon's farmworker community," Ramirez said.

Aguirre said he could support Kulongoski's executive order if the state had in place a "driving only" permit designed to allow permit holders to drive without serving as legitimate identification.

Establishing the permit requires legislative action, however, and to date lawmakers have been reticent to move on hot-button immigration legislation.

"There has to be a mechanism that enables workers to get to work," Aguirre said.

To date, Utah is the only state that issues a "driving only" permit.

Staff writer Mitch Lies is based in Salem. E-mail: mlies@capitalpress.com.

http://www.capitalpress.info/main.asp?S ... leID=37151

"Aguirre"

NUFF SAID?

Apparently this Aguirre has not been awake during the news.

"There has to be a mechanism that enables workers to get to work," Aguirre said.

There is such a mechanism for LEGAL immigrants

Isn't it funny that the people who stand to lose the most if immigration laws are enforced, are the people who yell the loudest.

I don't give a s**t about your nursery, farm, meat packing plant, hotel or whatever. I am SICK AND TIRED of subsidizing your cheap labor. Stop your belly aching and pay a REAL wage to a REAL AMERICAN.

Has anyone to date actually seen any definitive study with scientifically supported data that explicitly proves the open borders mantra "Giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens will create safer drivers, reduce accidents and make our roads safer"? Anyone? Anybody??? I didn't think so.