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Support Spitzer's plan to license immigrants  
First published: Saturday, October 20, 2007

I support our governor's initiative to license immigrants. A balance can and must be struck between homeland security concerns and real human and economic facts that there are 1 million immigrants in our state, some legally, some in violation of visas and some as illegal workers-aliens.
  
Nevertheless, our immigrant neighbors are here to stay. They are our fellow co-workers, fellow neighbors and our fellow parishioners. Mexican immigrants in particular are an integral part of our state's labor and farm work force.

To pretend that they should not be here and therefore "don't belong" is planting one's head in the sand and ignoring reality. Our federal government has failed miserably by not instituting a comprehensive immigration policy; therefore these issues are state's rights issues. Licensed and insured drivers are accountable, trained and tested -- the licensing will also be of assistance to law enforcement, not a hindrance.

THERESA SMITH
Delmar

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Clarke said Spitzer’s plan, to begin in December, is needed before a federal Real ID license is implemented that could verify citizenship.
   The Real ID Act, passed in response to the Sept. 11 attacks, requires all states to bring their driver’s licenses under a national standard and to link their recordkeeping systems. States must verify identification used to obtain a driver’s license, such as birth certificates, Social Security numbers and passports.

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Spitzer’s driver’s license plan would make New York safer

   Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s intrepid decision to support immigrant access to driver’s licenses will empower hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to rise from the shadows of fear and become fully contributing members of society.
   Restoring immigrant access to driver’s licenses will enable hundreds of thousands of motorists to obtain a state driver’s license and automobile insurance, resulting in safer roads for millions of New Yorkers.
   This landmark policy also does not overlook security concerns. The policy includes enhanced safeguards against fraud, and requires immigrants to produce secure and verifiable identity documents — such as foreign passports — to become licensed drivers.
   In addition, the policy does not violate the federal Real ID Act. Under the act, New Yorkers will be able to use their licenses to board planes at least until May 2013.
   Although the policy has been the target of fear-mongering politicians, the fact is that providing immigrants with access to driver’s licenses is a sound policy which will only enhance the safety and security of New York state.
   MELANIE TRIMBLE
   Albany
The writer is executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, Capital Region chapter.  

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Restoring immigrant access to driver’s licenses will enable hundreds of thousands of motorists to obtain a state driver’s license and automobile insurance, resulting in safer roads for millions of New Yorkers.

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Suit filed over driver's licenses going to illegal immigrants  
  
By KENNETH C. CROWE II, Staff writer
monday, October 22, 2007

TROY -- Rensselaer County Clerk Frank J. Merola said he has sued the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Commissioner David Swarts to stop Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
  
Merola said he filed the lawsuit today in Albany County.

"The governor is not listening to the people; perhaps he may listen to the courts," Merola said.

"New York residents have stated loudly and clearly that we are not in favor of giving license to illegal aliens and all we get from the governor are lectures on how we are wrong, and that if we were as smart as he was, we would understand and support this policy," Merola said.

Thomas Gleason, a senior partner with the firm Gleason, Dunn, Walsh and O'Shea, will represent Merola.

The lawsuit alleges that the state DMV is in violation of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law Article 19 Section 502 that mandates a Social Security number for purposes of license issuance.

The suit seeks a restraining order against the state DMV's imposition of this policy as well as overturning the governor's policy change.

"I have stated from the beginning that Rensselaer County will not issue any licenses to those who cannot prove that they are in this country legally. I am filing this suit on behalf of the people of Rensselaer County to prevent this outrageous and dangerous policy change that poses a threat to the safety and security of New York residents," Merola said.

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October 18, 2007,  5:18 pm
Clinton Takes Stand on Driver’s License Issue (Sort Of)
By Nicholas Confessore

Updated, 6:45 p.m. | In a recent sit-down interview with the board of The Nashua Telegraph, a leading New Hampshire newspaper, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton finally was asked what she thinks of Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s policy to allow illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses.
Her answer? Judge for yourself:

I think it’s important to bring everybody out of the shadows. To do the background checks. To deport those who have outstanding warrants or have committed crimes in the United States, and then to say to those who wish to stay here, you have to pay back taxes, you have to pay a fine, you have to learn English, and you have to wait in line. And I hate to see any state being pushed to try to take this into their own hands, because the federal government has failed.
So I know exactly what Governor Spitzer’s trying to do and it makes a lot of sense, because he’s trying to get people out of the shadows. He’s trying to say, “O.K., come forward and we will give you this license.”
But without a federal policy in effect, people will come forward and they could get picked up by I.C.E. tomorrow. I mean, this can’t work state-by-state. It has to be looked at comprehensively. I agreed with President Bush and his efforts to try to approach this. He just didn’t have the political capital left by the time he actually got serious about it.
And it’s unfortunate that too many people are using this to demagogue the issue, instead of trying to solve it: you know, people in politics, people in the press, and there’s a kind of unholy alliance.
There are a couple of different things going on here. She does say the policy “makes a lot of sense,” which is close to saying she supports it but not quite. And like the governor, she laments the tone of the debate, and takes an implicit swing at state Republicans and outlets like The New York Post or Lou Dobbs’s show.
So the Spitzer administration could take that as an endorsement.
There is, however, that “but.”
Like some members of the Legislature who are wavering on the issue, Mrs. Clinton sort of burrowed past the question, saying the real problem is that Washington hasn’t come up with a comprehensive immigration reform. She doesn’t quite say she is on board with Mr. Spitzer’s plan to give licenses to illegal immigrants, the issue at hand.
Interestingly, she also takes the tack that the policy would put illegal immigrants at the risk of being picked up by immigration authorities — something that has been a concern of immigration advocacy groups.
Under Mr. Spitzer’s policy, the copies of documents people would submit to get licenses would be destroyed after being verified. But information about whether or not they provided a Social Security number would likely reside in the system, information which would probably be available under subpoena. (Mr. Spitzer’s office just notified reporters that he has scheduled an announcement related to the plan for 11 a.m. Friday at New York University School of Law.)
Philippe Reines, the senator’s press secretary, said in a statement: “Senator Clinton strongly believes that a federal solution is needed to our immigration crisis. She is still studying the Governor’s proposal, but understands the impetus behind his plan — that federal inaction on comprehensive immigration reform has created conditions where states feel compelled to act on their own.”