Gov. Quinn Must Veto Bill Granting Driver's Licenses to Illegal
Aliens
Illinois Bill Would Impact All Americans, Says FAIR
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The
Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is calling upon
Gov. Pat Quinn to veto SB 957,
legislation that would grant Illinois driver's licenses to illegal aliens.
SB 957 was approved by the State Senate on Tuesday and is expected
to pass the State House of Representatives as well.
SB 957 ignores explicit warnings by the blue ribbon commission
that investigated the attacks of 9/11 that making government-issued
identification documents available to people who are in the country
illegally poses a serious threat to homeland security. Even though
Illinois licenses issued to
illegal aliens could not be used to board commercial airliners, the
9/11 Commission report noted that such documents were vital to the
terrorists' planning and execution of the attacks.
"Enactment of SB 957 would pose a threat to the safety and
security of the nation. As such, it is not simply a state matter,
but an issue of concern to all Americans," stated Dan Stein, president of FAIR. "We strongly urge
Gov. Quinn to act responsibly and veto SB 957."
Not only does the bill compromise homeland security, SB 957 also
promises to make Illinois a magnet
for widespread fraud. The two other states that issue licenses to
illegal aliens – New Mexico and
Washington – have found pervasive
use of false addresses and fraudulent documents by non-resident
illegal aliens to obtain licenses.
And because Illinois cannot
positively confirm the identities of foreign nationals who apply
for licenses in many cases, the state will likely be complicit in
helping people establish false identities. "When people who pose a
danger to American society are able to create new identities with
assistance of the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles, we will
all face precisely the sort of threat the 9/11 Commission warned
about," Stein said.
Finally, FAIR challenges the contentions of the bill's sponsors
that it would improve road safety in Illinois. Data show that New Mexico has the second highest rate of
uninsured motorists, 26 percent, while Washington ranks tenth on the list. "There is
no evidence to suggest that people who are already inclined to
disobey laws they find inconvenient and who, in many cases have few
assets to protect, are going to purchase insurance just because
they have licenses.
"Nor is there any reason to believe that granting driver's
licenses to illegal aliens would make drivers safer or cut down on
DUIs. Having a license is not likely to change the personal
behavior of people who are inclined to endanger themselves and
everyone else on the road by getting behind the wheel when they are
impaired," Stein cautioned. "If road safety truly was their
concern, Illinois could easily
deter most unlicensed drivers by imposing stiff fines, impounding
vehicles, and promising greater cooperation with federal
immigration authorities.
"SB 957 is not about public safety. It is about satisfying the
political demands of illegal aliens and their advocates.
Illinois, and in particular
Cook County, have made it clear
that their overriding objective is protecting those who violate
U.S. immigration laws. However, in this case the Illinois
Legislature is not just committing the state's resources and tax
dollars to their effort to undermine enforcement of immigration
laws. SB 957 will put every American at risk unless Gov. Quinn
vetoes this irresponsible legislation," concluded Stein.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is
a national, nonprofit, public-interest, membership organization of
concerned citizens who share a common belief that our nation's
immigration policies must be reformed to serve the national
interest.
Visit FAIR's website at www.fairus.org.
SOURCE FAIR