The Badger Herald

OPINION & EDITORIAL

Green-light immigrants

Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.

Also by Sarah Howard:

Public TV rejects Greens (October 13, 2006)
Hosty decision affects student papers (September 7, 2005)
Grant boosts language (October 20, 2006)
Drop in oil supply demands action (September 13, 2005)
UW aid looms over race (October 27, 2006)

by Sarah Howard

Monday, February 28, 2005

Do most immigrants have terrorist tendencies? Although lawmakers quickly answer “no” to this loaded question, their true response may be a case of actions speaking louder than words — and there is no shortage of either with respect to this controversial topic.

As Representatives Mark Gundrun of New Berlin and James Sensenbrenner of Menomonee Falls have indicated, the 9/11 terrorists’ use of multiple state-issued drivers’ licenses is evidence of the need to close a gaping national security loophole. Consequently, Gundrun and Sensenbrenner almost simultaneously introduced state and federal legislation that would require all citizens and immigrants to show proof they are in the country legally to obtain a driver’s license.

Under the new regulations, immigrants would need to present a visa or passport, along with basic proof of name, birth date and residency. The obvious result of this legislation would be the denial of thousands of driver’s license requests — 41,000 in Wisconsin, according to an illegal immigrant population survey conducted in 2000 by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Initially, this legislation may seem like a smart way to deny malevolent illegal aliens the means to obtain dangerous weapons and travel privileges without government discretion. However, it is important to remember that national security begins at the local level — where this bill’s effects may have dangerous and morally deplorable consequences.

By denying illegal immigrants drivers’ licenses, the state is not making a problem disappear — it’s not even keeping the problem off the road. The vast majority of illegal immigrants are not terrorists — they only use their drivers’ licenses for intended purposes. This means driving to work each day — something immigrants will continue to do out of bare necessity. Some may turn to an underground economy for state drivers’ licenses (for a connection near you, just inquire at the nearest University of Wisconsin dorm). Others will skip this hassle, and take to the streets without identification.

Wisconsin citizens must ask themselves if this “security measure” is worth it. Is having community roads and highways full of uneducated and uninsured drivers the most effective answer to the situation?

While the debate continues in the state capital, it is also taking place in Washington, where Sensenbrenner has introduced the Real ID Act. This bill includes the proposed Wisconsin legislation, as well as drastic anti-immigration extras. In addition to denying illegal immigrants drivers’ licenses, Sensenbrenner’s bill will make it more difficult to seek asylum in America and proposes the construction of a wall along the southwestern border of the country to discourage illegal border-crossing. This legislation has already passed the House with a vote of 261-161 and is waiting for Senate deliberation.

What is especially important for Wisconsin citizens is that the Real ID Act would render current drivers’ licenses in Wisconsin useless for federal identification. Under Sensenbrenner’s plan, states must agree to deny illegal immigrants drivers’ licenses if they want their IDs to serve national identification purposes — such as being acceptable identification for boarding planes or purchasing guns. This potential national provision gives the vote regarding Gundrun’s bill in Wisconsin added importance, as it will have obvious repercussions for immigrants and citizens alike.

With safety on the line, and the state and national vote pending, politicians must strongly consider the potential effects of this bill. Sensenbrenner said, “immigrants are not terrorists — except a few of them — and we ought to divide the debate between security and immigration,” to the Wisconsin State Journal. These are intelligent words from a well-meaning politician and should be translated into political action. By denying illegal immigrants their drivers-license privileges, we are not only endangering their well-being, but that of drivers everywhere. Instead of curbing national security threats, this legislation will only multiply the dangers on roads in Madison, highways of Wisconsin and the interstates across America.

Sarah Howard (smhoward@wisc.edu) is a sophomore majoring in political science.

Feedback

Show all comments

Hide anonymous comments

Anonymous (February 28, 2005 @ 9:30am):

"...as well as drastic anti-immigration extras."

It is only drastic if you are breaking the law. Making life easier for criminals will only encourage more crime.

***

"Is having community roads and highways full of uneducated and uninsured drivers the most effective answer to the situation?"

Apprehending and expelling all illegal immigrants would clearly be a better alternative.

Anonymous (February 28, 2005 @ 9:50am):

Once all the illegal immigrants are licensed, they could use the information to round them all up and deport them?

Anonymous (February 28, 2005 @ 11:01am):

it must be nice to have views that clearly reflect being isolated in a lily white world.

Anonymous (February 28, 2005 @ 12:21pm):

"By denying illegal immigrants their drivers-license privileges..."

Tell me, one what grounds should someone here ILLEGALLY have any sort or rights or privileges. They obviously have no regard for our law, so we should just roll over and give them whatever they want? Hey, maybe all illegal immigrants should have free government health care too! Give me a break... stop the bleeding heart and have some common sense.

Anonymous (February 28, 2005 @ 2:21pm):

"Hey, maybe all illegal immigrants should have free government health care too!"

They already get healh care for free. Check out the situation in California. Hospitals are closing emergency rooms and/or going broke because they are required to provide health care to illegal immigrants and then don't get paid.

Anonymous (February 28, 2005 @ 2:23pm):

"it must be nice to have views that clearly reflect being isolated in a lily white world."

Please spare me the self-righteous "I am a minority/I have a minority friend so I know more than whites" attitude. It does not persuade anybody and all it does is make you look like a moron. But that is probably what you are anyway.

Anonymous (February 28, 2005 @ 2:55pm):

"it must be nice to have views that clearly reflect being isolated in a lily white world."

I call bullshit - just check with some of the "NOT lily white" legal immigrants. They're usually pretty angry at the "line-jumpers" who break the law.

Heck, I don't like it if somebody cuts in line at a movie, I can't even imagine how much worse it would be to have followed the law and then to see someone cutting in line to get into the USA.

Anonymous (March 4, 2005 @ 11:36am):

There is a whole world beyond your parents and their views about black/browns/eastern euros/mid easterners/southeast asians and probably even homosexuals. I WILL save you the self righteous "I am a minority" bit. Well, no I won't. My family, both parents, left their native countries and they had a finish line in mind. That was the US. They are both citizens now and they would die for this country. I would die for this country. So you can go home up dair up nort and do shots of ranch dressing wrapped in bacon and chunks of cheddar, throw on your blaze orange, drink Point, and talk about "rounding up" people. It's those who worked the hardest to get here who make this country move forward.

Anonymous (March 11, 2005 @ 3:34pm):

I totally disagree with the bill and the idea of forcing these illegal aliens more to the underground society.

Anonymous (March 17, 2005 @ 4:56pm):

exacto, esta medida no creo que sirva para reforzar seguridad en el pais, ya que no creo que los atentados sucedidos en 9/11 se hayan elaborado con una licencia de manejo, esto solo aumnetara la compra de documentacion falsa y tambien pondra en riesgo economicamente y fisicamente a los ciudadanos de wisconsin,ya que identificarse es muy necesario en todos lados.

Anonymous (September 29, 2005 @ 1:52am):

if they're illegal shouldnt they be sent back to thier own country instead of driving down our roads anyway ? instead of just denying them a license they should call immigration and deport them.