Legal Commentary

Michigan to Deny Drivers Licenses to Undocumented and Lawfully Present Immigrants

By Jeralyn

A new policy goes into effect in Michigan today. Undocumented residents will not be allowed to obtain drivers' licenses. But, that's not all.

The new policy also prohibits people who are legal but not permanent U.S. residents from getting licenses. Legislation to allow those on temporary work or student visas to get licenses is pending in the Legislature.

States that allow drivers licenses for the undocumented include:

Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington do not require drivers to prove legal status to obtain a license.

Unfortunately, we can't count on any of the Democratic candidates to take a strong stand on bringing the undocumented out of the shadows. While Hillary flubbed the question during a Democratic debate, John Edwards opposed licenses for the undocumented. And Barack Obama, well, he first said he was in favor of it but then weaseled out just moments later. Then he went back to his first position. As Hillary says, it's hard to figure out where he stands on a number of issues. This is one of them. [quotes below.]

"On the issue that apparently tripped up Senator Clinton earlier, the issue of driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, I take it, Senator Obama, you support giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Is that right?" asked Blitzer.

"When I was a state senator in Illinois, I voted to require that illegal aliens get trained, get a license, get insurance to protect public safety. That was my intention," said Obama.

"And - but I have to make sure that people understand. The problem we have here is not driver's licenses. Undocumented workers do not come here to drive. They don't go - they're not coming here to go to the In-N-Out Burger. That's not the reason they're here," he said.

"They're here to work. And so instead of being distracting by what has now become a wedge issue, let's focus on actually solving the problem that this administration, the Bush administration, had done nothing about it," Obama added.

"Well, let's go through everybody because I want to be precise," said Blitzer. "Do you support or oppose driver's licenses for illegal immigrants?"

Obama responded: "I am not proposing that that's what we do. What I'm saying is that we can't ..."

At this evasion, the audience started laughing. "No, no, no, no," said Obama. "Look, I have already said, I support the notion that we have to deal with public safety and that driver's licenses at the same level can make that happen. But what I also know ... Wolf, is that if we keep on getting distracted by this problem, then we are not solving it."

And then:

Blitzer then quizzed the other candidates for a "yes or no answer." Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards said he opposed giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens, while noting that once he put people on a "path to citizenship," he would let them get licenses. As in the earlier debate, Dodd said he opposed giving licenses to illegal aliens.

Then Blitzer put the question to Obama again. "Senator Obama, yes or no?" he asked.

"Yes," said Obama.

In contrast to her answer to this same question in the Oct. 30 debate, Clinton's answer this time was succinct. "No," she said.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on January 22, 2008 (boomark / email).