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October 20, 2007
Former Counterterrorism Czar Supports NY Proposal to Allow Undocumented Immigrants to Be Eligible for Driver's Licenses
The N.Y. Times reports today that New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, whose plan to grant undocumented immigrants driver’s licenses has encountered widespread opposition, announced yesterday that Richard A. Clarke, the former White House counterterrorism czar, had endorsed the proposal. In a news conference at New York University, Governor Spitzer highlighted Mr. Clarke’s support as he sought to allay concerns that the proposal would make it easier for criminals or even prospective terrorists to obtain government identification. Mr. Clarke, who did not appear at NYU, issued a statement, which stated in part, that "From a law enforcement and security perspective, it is far preferable for the state to know who is living in it and driving on its roads, and to have their photograph and their address on file, than to have large numbers of people living in our cities whose identity is totally unknown to the government.”
As I have written previously, I believe that Spitzer and Clarke are right. From a public safety standpoint, how could it make any sense to deny undocumented immigrants eligibility for a driver's license? Don't we want a record of who is living here and where they live? Don't we want to ensure that all drivers on the road are safety-tested and have insurance? Allowing undocumented immigrants to be eligible for driver's licenses is in the interests of U.S. citizens as well as immigrants.
KJ
October 20, 2007 | Permalink
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Comments
'From a public safety standpoint, how could it make any sense to deny undocumented immigrants eligibility for a driver's license?'
Because of all the things which concern security they can do with a license ID. Security is public safety concern #1.
'Don't we want a record of who is living here and where they live?'
Don't we want to control who is living here in the first place rather than making it so easy for random people we know nothing about to live here illegally? I'll take actual order over a record of what we have let fall into disorder. Is it not perverse for a state to sanction people whose presence is not authorized by the supreme federal law?
'Don't we want to ensure that all drivers on the road are safety-tested and have insurance?'
How about ensuring that all drivers on the road are supposed to be in this country in the first place? Doesn't that make more sense than giving one more incentive to ignore our immigration law?
'Allowing undocumented immigrants to be eligible for driver's licenses is in the interests of U.S. citizens as well as immigrants.'
For the alien, absolutely. For the citizen, there are downsides.
Posted by: Jack | Oct 21, 2007 5:32:28 PM
...AND 72% of New Yorkers oppose it. So which matters more: the will of the people or the opinion of one retired person?
Posted by: J.D. | Oct 24, 2007 9:49:06 AM
