Thread: Undocumented Illegal Aliens in North Carolina Face Deportati

Undocumented Illegal Aliens in North Carolina Face Deportation

January 1, 2009

By Alexandra Vilchez

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA -- More than 50,000 Hispanics in North Carolina will not be able to renew their driver's licenses in 2009 and could face deportation thanks to the state's eight separate programs aimed at detecting undocumented immigrants.

From Jan. 1, 2002, to Aug. 28, 2006, North Carolina permitted the use of a taxpayer identification number, an ITIN or W-7, so that residents lacking a Social Security number could apply for a driver's license.

During that period, the Division of Motor Vehicles issued 220,983 licenses valid for five years to applicants presenting the ITIN as identification, the majority of them undocumented immigrants of Hispanic origin.

But under political pressure from anti-immigrant groups reporting that "illegals" from other states were flooding into North Carolina to take out licenses fraudulently, the state legislature approved a restrictive law on July 2006.

The law now bars anybody without legal status in the United States from having a driver's license or a government-issued ID.

According to DMV figures, for the year 2009 around 50,555 drivers - mostly undocumented Hispanics - that obtained licenses with the ITIN must present a Social Security number to get a new one.

Without a license, undocumented Hispanics can neither register a vehicle nor get insurance.

That situation, according to Tony Asion, director of the El Pueblo group in the North Carolina capital of Raleigh, is keeping the state from "collecting a large amount of money from taxes on these services."

"People don't want to drive without licenses but they don't have any other choice than to take a chance and drive, since they can't get to distant places on a bike, and some rural towns don't have good transportation systems," Asion told Efe.

An analysis by The News and Observer newspaper using figures from the court system showed in June that Hispanics are fined for not having a license more than any other ethnic group although they make up only 7 percent of the state's total population.

From April 2006 until now, eight North Carolina counties have activated the 287g program that allows verification of the immigration status of foreign detainees in local jails.

That means that if an undocumented alien is arrested in any of those counties for not having a driver's license, he or she could face deportation.

A report by the North Carolina sheriffs' association revealed last month that between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 4,511 foreigners were investigated under the 287g program, of which 3,359 were undocumented.

Of that total, approximately 3,182 were deported and another 177 had previous orders to leave the country.

Some 829, or 23 percent, were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and 1,215, or 33 percent, for minor traffic infractions.

Eleanor Kinnaird, a Democratic state senator from Carrboro north of Raleigh, told Efe that the 287g is a program that encourages racial profiling.

"They take Hispanics to jail for not having a license and to citizens they just issue a summons to appear in court. That is simple discrimination," the senator said.

Asion predicts that in 2009 the arrests of undocumented aliens for not having a license will continue, and for that reason the organization he directs will begin talks this year with lawmakers and will pressure them to restore the privilege of driving to the undocumented.

"It's better for the state in these times of financial crisis. And the streets are safer if people know the laws and can respond in case of an accident," he said.

www.laht.com

Good, I hope they broadcast this message in all the Spanish media in NC. The illegals need to know we are going to find them and deport them out of my home state!

W

An analysis by The News and Observer newspaper using figures from the court system showed in June that Hispanics are fined for not having a license more than any other ethnic group although they make up only 7 percent of the state's total population.

Sounds like they pretty much don't care if they have a license anyway.

The senator complaining about everybody else getting a summons for court and illegals going to jail needs to stop and think.They are not only driving illeagally but are also guilty of being in the country against federal LAW!!

That situation, according to Tony Asion, director of the El Pueblo group in the North Carolina capital of Raleigh, is keeping the state from "collecting a large amount of money from taxes on these services."

Looks like they have put the pen to the paper and realized it was worth every cent and will overall yield a surplus in welfare, education, medical, public services..., when the illeglas leave the system.

No real loss.

Dixie

"They take Hispanics to jail for not having a license and to citizens they just issue a summons to appear in court. That is simple discrimination," the senator said.

I'm going to assume that the citizens that receive the summons to appear in court have other forms of identification. I'm sure just the opposite is true of the illegal aliens. They probably have no form of legitimate identification.

Furthermore, why am I not surprised that a Democrat purposely made this an Hispanic issue. I'll bet most of those pulled over with absolutely no form of identification go to jail, irregardless of nationality, race, color, etc. I'd be disappointed if they weren't because adults with no identification need to be screened as potential terrorist.

Eleanor Kinnaird, a Democratic state senator from Carrboro north of Raleigh, told Efe that the 287g is a program that encourages racial profiling.

"They take Hispanics to jail for not having a license and to citizens they just issue a summons to appear in court. That is simple discrimination," the senator said.

Asion predicts that in 2009 the arrests of undocumented aliens for not having a license will continue, and for that reason the organization he directs will begin talks this year with lawmakers and will pressure them to restore the privilege of driving to the undocumented.

Too damn bad about the profiling! Discrimination? How about OUR right to be safe in our homes and on our streets? And as for Tony Asion... pressure all you want, illegals WILL NOT be allowed licecenses again without a huge fight! Most times you read of hit and runs here in NC it's an illegal! Do you honestly believe having a license will make them stop? Hell no, because license or no license they still have 287g. They still face deportation.

Another democrat that needs to lose her office!!!!

I hope they all dont come to Maryland, because our state has had enough long lines filled with illegal aliens getting drivers licenses. Legitimate people had to wait in line for hours at the MV office because the rooms were filled with people coming from who knows where because of lax rules and "dont ask, dont tell-illegal, not illegal" policies.

"They take Hispanics to jail for not having a license and to citizens they just issue a summons to appear in court. That is simple discrimination," the senator said.

This Senator is an idiot . I sincerely hope that one day her life will be dramatically changed by an illegal alien doing damage to her or her family so she can see firsthand how the affects of doing nothing to remove them from our country has on her . Citizens have rights , illegal aliens have the right to leave .