Illinois has become the fourth and most populous state to give undocumented immigrants permission to drive, according to the Huffington Post.
DETAILS: Finally! California To Issue Driver’s Licenses To Undocumented Immigrants
Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn signed the bill into law on Sunday, which boasts backers like Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and some of the state’s top Republicans, touting it as a public-safety measure. They also argue that the required facial recognition technology is reliable enough to prevent fraud.
But not everyone is happy.
However, the law’s opponents have pointed to hundreds of fraudulent cases in New Mexico, Washington and Utah after those states began giving undocumented immigrants permission to drive. Illinois will not require applicants to be fingerprinted, for fear that would discourage immigrants from applying.
“How many people would apply for this document knowing that fingerprints will be going to (federal authorities)? Probably not all that many,” said Fred Tsao, policy director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, a driving-force behind the measure.
Proponents of the law hail it as an important step for immigrant rights in Illinois.
“This was a bipartisan effort to pass an important law,” Quinn said. “When the president speaks on Tuesday, he can say about his home state of Illinois … we not only passed the Dream Act last year, we passed driver’s licenses for those who are undocumented.”
DETAILS: Thinkin’ Of A Master Plan! President Obama To Push Immigration Overhaul In 2013!
The licenses will be like those already issued to certain foreign-born, legal visitors. Applicants will be photographed, and their photo will be entered into the state’s facial recognition database – like the rest of Illinois’ licensed drivers – to verify their identity.
Do you think this is a progressive step into immigration reform?
SOURCE: Huffington Post
