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Friday, November 16, 2007

Immigrant Drivers

Should undocumented immigrants be allowed to carry state drivers licenses?

What are the arguments for and against this policy?

How do the presidential candidates feel about this issue?

Is this a topic that presidential candidates should be debating about?

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree and disagree with giving them driver license because you can track them now and know were they are and what they are doing once we get them in the system we can start to clean up the street and help people. I mean if we do this we will start to have a lot more people coming from other country's but we should make security on the borders tighter and harder for them to get in. i kind of feel bad for them because they are trying to start a new better life and they work so hard and live there life in fear. we need to do something to help out the ones that are her and keep others out and make sure they get in the right way.

Anonymous said...

I believe this is a highly debatable topic. Their are pros and cons to each side, so much so that its hard to decide which is right. If illegal immigrants are issued a drivers license, it would indeed be easier to keep track of people that aren't citizens of the U.S. However, if they are given drivers licenses, it will make their job opportunities, and other things along those lines a lot easier to aquire. If we make opportunties easier for illegal immigrants, the rate entering the U.S. will most deffinitly increase.
Some candidates would be for this proposal because they believe that if immigrant can obtain insurance, the rate of hit and runs will decrease, and even in situations like that, the people involved in the incident will be able to be tracked down. Others believe that the plan isn't going to have the effect they're hoping it will. They might be against it because of the fact that these people who aren't legally supposed to be in the U.S. can get jobs, drive, and places to live.
-Alyssa Cumberbatch

Anonymous said...

I remember when my grandpa's aunt who was about 90 years at the time and living in the United States for her entire life tried to get a nondriver's i.d., it took her months. She was misssing one piece of her documentation, I think it was the original copy of her birth certificate and they almost wouldn't issue her an i.d. at all. It is so hard for even an american citizen to get a license or other forms of identification, we need so many documnets to prove who we are. I think it is very hard for the people of new york to justify giving identification to illegal immigrants who have no way of proving who they truly are.
But as we discussed in class even if this bill was passed I don't think many illegal immigrants would take advantage of it. Why would someone willing pay so much money for car insurance when they can be in an accident and leave without paying a dime or pay for medical insurance when they can walk into a hospital and be treated for free. I also don't think immigrants have enough trust in the government to identify themselves as illegals, they may think that this is just a way for the government to identify them.
If you were an illegal immigrant would you sign up for license?

Anonymous said...

Personally, I think if immigrants come to the U.S. to start a new life, they might as well become citizens. I mean, what is stopping them from going through the process of becoming a legal citizen? I think giving illegal immigrants drivers licenses will just encourage more illegal immigrants to come. The arguments for this policy are that it will decrease hit and runs because if an illegal immigrant gets into an accident, they'll have insurance to they wont just leave it. However, people fear that it will increase terrorism because everyone will have I.D., so no one will know who is not supposed to be here. This is a topic that presidential candidates shoud be debating about because people have so many different views on it.

Anonymous said...

I dont think that immigrants should be allowed to carry a NY drivers liscence but they should have a different type of identification that shows that they are immigrants and they live in NY or any other state. I think that everyone has there own view on this matter. I agree with Kristen they it would better that they have some type of identification so that they can keep track of them and that also the borders should start getting more secure so people dont come to America so easily. Yes the presidents should be debating on this because this affects people lives.But at the same time you think, If they cant help their own soldiers that are coming back home from war how will they help all these immigrants?

Anonymous said...

J Dilan

It is a difficult situation with deciding if we should give the immigrants licenses. I agree with Kristen when she says that it can track them were ever they go. Even if they were able to get a license I don’t think many of them would get it. The reason why I say that is as Mr. Brown said in class they might think that it’s a trap to get deported back to their country. This would be a good debate topic because you can make good arguments for both sides. The good thing about having these immigrants is that most of them do the things in the world that American citizens don’t like to do. They just want to start a good life but its hard because the live in fear.

Anonymous said...

When it comes to this topic, i agree with Kristen and Alyssa Cumberbatch, that there are many pros and cons to this idea. I think even every presidential candidate, regardless of their party, is going to feel very different when it comes down to this topic. I would have to say, out of all of the candidate's opinions on the idea of issuing and illegal immigrant a drivers license, i would have to agree most with Rudy Giuliani. In march of this yeah, Giulani made this statement on illegal immigration, "If anybody is here illegally, they should never get to be put ahead of a line of people that are here legally. They should have to pay a penalty, because there should not be amnesty. It's a civil wrong. Civil wrongs are compensated by paying penalties. They should pay the back taxes. And if you ultimately find a way to make them citizens, then there should be a very, very strong requirement that they speak English, read English, write English, and understand American history." I think that forgetting about all of the terrorisms than can take place, and all of the papers and green cards you need to get in to this country, i feel that if you are able to understand the American culture, and be able to pay some money in taxes, you should be allowed to stay. I know that many of the illegal immigrants that come into this country, do many dirty and low paying jobs, that people as Americans don't feel like they should be doing. But i think that in the end, it comes down to the fact that they immigrants are illegal, and issuing them a drivers license is only a step in the wrong direction.

Anonymous said...

By issuing illegal immigrants driver's license, I think there are both negative effects and positive effects to this situation. I agree with Alyssa Cumberbatch. If they are issued driver's license, we would be keeping track of illegal immigrants which is a good thing for us. But if they are issued driver's license then it's going to be really easy for them to get jobs and do other things that Legal immigrants are allowed to do. If this happens, more illegal immigrants are going to be entering the United states and it's not a good thing.
-Simran Kaur

Anonymous said...

I basically agree with everyone. I don't think the illegal immigrants should be issued driver's license whatsoever because it's quite dangerous and we need to protect our country from risks. This is definitely a topic the pres. candidates should be debating about.
-TLau

Anonymous said...

It is in all honesty a good idea to give illegal immigrants drivers licences, since once they get here it isn't technically against the law. Though if they are caught, they tend to be deported.
If illegals were given drivers lincenses then they might just get insurance. They would also pay taxes, since they take from the system (send their kids to school, go to the hospital when injured, ect) now they would give back.
Now if only this were enacted and the illegals decided to sign up for it. Unfortunately, most would not do so, due to the fear of deportation. It could be argued that they would see it as a trap, from the department that deals with immigration, to find out who they are, so they could be deported. Admittedly it is not out of the realm of possibility, I thought the samething the first time I heard about it. While giving illegal immigrants drivers licenses sounds like a good idea, perhaps it is not all that practical.

Anonymous said...

Courteney Richardson

personally to me , I believe if the united states of america always had the title of FREEDOM, how come its so hard to let immigrants/ foriengers into our country without a problem? for an example that I stated in class , HOW COME THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE HELPING OUT SUCH AS HANDY JOBS, YOUR GIVING SO MUCH TROUBLE TO LIVE HERE? its only fair that an immigrant should carry a piece of I.d , or its fair for them to have a license like everyone else so they can get around... I sometimes think that most of the time social security numbers get stolen because of some who does not have a social security/ benefits... & why is it so hard for them to get a green card?

Anonymous said...

i absolutely 100 percent agree w. Durkhanai i feel like they should have another type of identification just because their immigrants an they are here illegally. They shouldnt get special privileges of recieving a license that easy just because their driving a cab. I dont think its fair to other immigrants that dont have a green card or a work visa. They should all get the same treatment.
WSingleton

Anonymous said...

I agree with Courtney and John, that illegal immigrants should be allowed to carry state drivers licencesnses." Gov. Spitzer announced that illegal immigrants will be able to get valid New York State drivers licenses if they provide a valid and verifiable foreign passport."It was Sen. Hillary Clinton's turn to squirm when she was asked at last week's Democratic presidential debate whether she supports her home-state governor's plan to issue drivers' licenses to undocumented residents.

Clinton's unclear answer — that Gov. Eliot Spitzer's proposal "makes a lot of sense," but "I did not say it should be done" — was not one of her finer moments.
I think so they should be debating on this topic, because this a big issue in Ameerica. Hearing about what the candidates think can either make people change who to vote for ,or not to.

Anonymous said...

There are 100 ways you can look at this and have different views on it. I agree with kristen and durkhanai on the fact that its a way to track where they are but also on a side note they should be carrying an alternate identification showing that they are immigrants from another country living in said state. I mean also, if we allow these immigrants to enter and hand them these licenses it would definitely encourage more to start swarming in, which would be a problem for the economy aka overpopulation.

Anonymous said...

This is a very debatable topic. Immigrants do come here to start a new life and become a US Citizen. As Megan said, giving illegal immigrants drivers licenses will just encourage more illegal immigrants to come. The arguments that are made for this policy are that it will decrease hit and runs but citizens would not know who are the terrorists because everyone has their own I.D's, so we wouldn't be able to tell who isn't suppose to be in America. Last but not least, this a topic that presidential candidates should be debating about.

-Anta R.

Anonymous said...

there are many pros and cons when discussing this issue. Giving immagrants licences could be a sucess or could back fire just as easily. By allowing somebody who is not a citizen of the country to hold the same title as somebody who is is a bit upserd. But at the same time with a license could come insurance and other documents that could help track the immagrants every move.

Jblount

Anonymous said...

I agree with everyone when they said that it can go both ways with this topic. It will keep track of people that aren't citizens of the U.S. but at the same time it will just increase more illegal immigrants to come to the U.S. I agree with what Alyssa F. said about we should give more opportunities to the legal immigrants than illegal immigrants. But I think that giving illegal immigrants a driver’s license would just cause more problems for this country. Like what John Z. said I don’t feel that many illegal immigrants are going to have a driver’s license because they would think it’s a trap and would be scared of deportation. Rudy Giuliani thinks that this isn’t a good idea and that legal immigrants should have opportunities before the illegal immigrants do. This would be a good debate topic because you can make good arguments for both sides. But what happens to the illegal immigrants after they receive the driver’s license? Will they also get insurance?

Anonymous said...

I feel that this is a way to keep track of everyone as well as to find out if they are a US citizen or not. Providing them licsense will als help to prevent terrorism. I feel that immigrants should get a temporary licsense and they would have to renew it every year or so.

Anonymous said...

giving immigrants license is good but at the same time is not because then how could you kno whos a citizen and not they would be able to getaway with everything.

i think immigrant come to the U.S just to start there life over not make trouble because they hear so much that over here we have freedom but that the same time they dont kno how much they have to go through just to get where they want to go.

kristal atchison

Anonymous said...

I agree with Kristen I agree and disagree with giving them driver license. It would be helpful to give them licenses because then we will know who is in our country. It would be bad because they are trying to cut back on immigration and that is only showing them that they can come and its fine. But I feel we need to do something to help our non-citizens because they contribute a lot to our country and without them we probably would be living a differently.

Anonymous said...

I agree with all those who said there are pros and cons to issuing illegals licenses as a form of identification.
The cons of issuing these licenses would consist of an increase of immigration, being unable to identify foreign terrorist organizations, potential deportation of illegals, and lack of foreign cooperation. Further more the hatred towards the illegals would grow seeing how it would become easier for illegals to get a form of identification then it would be for legal citizens.
Some of the pros would be the possibility of less hit and runs involving illegal immigrants, help identify immigrants in case of life treating situations. They will also be able to get accurate census and might be able to start taxing the illegals.

Anonymous said...

This is a tricky topic when coming to giving immigrants licences to drive because I dont see whats wrong with everyone having an equal chance to obtain the licences to drive but when coming to immigrants i think they should only be able to get it if they can afford insurance because many accidents caused by immigrants become a hit and run situation because they dont have insurance.

Jamaal Adams

Anonymous said...

I think when you are a immigrant you need to get you papers right before oyu can enjoy the privilages of the country. To drive a car in the Us means that you can also get a good job but since you arent a citizen, you cant enjoy that privilage. Anyways, whats wrong with taking the bus?
_peterson saint cyr