Oregon Driver Licenses and Illegal Aliens
(Article by Jim Ludwick of Oregonians for Immigration Reform)Oregon is the only state on the West Coast that openly acknowledges that it issues driver licenses to illegal aliens. In addition, Oregon is one of only five states that do not verify the Social Security numbers of driver license applicants. The result is that Oregon has become a magnet for ID fraud, the methamphetamine trade and illegal immigration. In addition it has put a terrible burden on our public schools, the Oregon Health Plan and the criminal justice system.
The 2007 Oregon Legislature will address the issue but only because they are forced to do so. In 2005 Congress passed the REAL ID Act. This act requires all states to verify that driver license applicants are either U.S. citizens or legal residents. If a state does not comply with the act by May 2008, that states driver licenses will no longer be valid as proof of identification when boarding planes, entering a federal building or in any other dealings with the federal government. In essence, citizens from non-complying states will need a passport or other similar ID’s when traveling outside their state.
Unfortunately there is a loophole in the REAL ID Act. The loophole allows states to set up a two-tiered system. A high standard for American citizens to obtain a driver license and a low standard for illegal aliens to receive a "driving privilege" license. The driving privilege card could not theoretically be used as an ID.
Fortunately only two states, Utah and Tennessee, have taken advantage of the loophole and one of them, Tennessee stopped doing so. Last year Tennessee discontinued the practice citing the fact that out-of-state applicants were using fake papers and bribes to get the cards. In fact crime syndicates were bringing people in from not only other states, but Central and South America as well.
Governor Kulongoski is on record in saying that he will introduce a driver license bill in the
upcoming legislative session that will bring Oregon in compliance with the REAL ID Act. However when questioned about a driving privilege card for illegal aliens he did not respond with an answer. If Oregon were to pass a bill that contains the driving privilege card for illegal aliens, we would be only the second state that actively has such a provision and consequently become even a greater magnet for crime.
In August 2006, the Governor’s State –Issued ID Task Force released their report to Governor Kulongoski. http://www.oregon.gov/CJC/docs/IDTaskForceReport.pdf In the report it was stated that "Oregon does not require people to prove ‘legal presence’ as part of the eligibility process.†The report went on to say, “This has led to Oregon becoming a magnet for people here illegally who find it increasingly difficult to obtain a driver license in other states. This increases the risk that DMV will issue DL/ID cards to people who aren’t who they say they are, and that more ‘fraudsters’ will come to Oregon from out of state."
Congressman Steve King (R-IA), has stated that on average 13 Americans are killed each day by drunk driving illegal aliens and on average 14 Americans are murdered everyday by a non-citizen. Almost 10,000 Americans each year. The last thing we need is to lure more illegal aliens into Oregon. A driving privilege card for illegal aliens would do just that.
Jim Ludwick
Oregonians for Immigration Reform
PO Box 1438
McMinnville, OR 97128
Unfortunately there is a loophole in the REAL ID Act. The loophole allows states to set up a two-tiered system. A high standard for American citizens to obtain a driver license and a low standard for illegal aliens to receive a "driving privilege" license. The driving privilege card could not theoretically be used as an ID.
Fortunately only two states, Utah and Tennessee, have taken advantage of the loophole and one of them, Tennessee stopped doing so. Last year Tennessee discontinued the practice citing the fact that out-of-state applicants were using fake papers and bribes to get the cards. In fact crime syndicates were bringing people in from not only other states, but Central and South America as well.
Governor Kulongoski is on record in saying that he will introduce a driver license bill in the
upcoming legislative session that will bring Oregon in compliance with the REAL ID Act. However when questioned about a driving privilege card for illegal aliens he did not respond with an answer. If Oregon were to pass a bill that contains the driving privilege card for illegal aliens, we would be only the second state that actively has such a provision and consequently become even a greater magnet for crime.
In August 2006, the Governor’s State –Issued ID Task Force released their report to Governor Kulongoski. http://www.oregon.gov/CJC/docs/IDTaskForceReport.pdf In the report it was stated that "Oregon does not require people to prove ‘legal presence’ as part of the eligibility process.†The report went on to say, “This has led to Oregon becoming a magnet for people here illegally who find it increasingly difficult to obtain a driver license in other states. This increases the risk that DMV will issue DL/ID cards to people who aren’t who they say they are, and that more ‘fraudsters’ will come to Oregon from out of state."
Congressman Steve King (R-IA), has stated that on average 13 Americans are killed each day by drunk driving illegal aliens and on average 14 Americans are murdered everyday by a non-citizen. Almost 10,000 Americans each year. The last thing we need is to lure more illegal aliens into Oregon. A driving privilege card for illegal aliens would do just that.
Jim Ludwick
Oregonians for Immigration Reform
PO Box 1438
McMinnville, OR 97128
This is far above the 3000+ Americans that have been killed in Iraq these last few years.
Where is the outrage?
The idea is insane, but we have no end to spineless politicians willing to grovel to the most demanding special interest groups.
Listen up governor. Your next steps could possibly destroy the Democratic stronghold in place in the larger cities right now.
Janis Tebow
Regarding OFIR’s work, don’t knock it. It’s the only organization in Oregon trying to stop illegal immigration and reduce the volume of legal immigration to environmentally and socially sustainable numbers. These are life and death issues for the U.S. Read Pat Buchanan’s book, State of Emergency.
Semper Fi
the religion of Satan. believe it or not but the facts speak for themselves don't they.....
Unfortunantly NO. Our government is total corrupt and unfortunantly it is just not with the issue of illegal immigrants. If you watched the news this morning you heard an electided Demicrat state " It goes up Pennsylvaina ave and comes back down". In other words if Bush don't like it it will not matter that the house or stenate want it he will just send it back. We as the people have no say. And the people who really give a rats behind have been out voted. Marry Staret would have done wonders for Oregon but she did not get the expososer to put her in a place where she could have done something. Oregons loss.
What I do not understand is that when the Democrats acted up people voted Republican, when the Republicans acted up most of the people voted Democrat, on and on. Guess if people are so foolish, this country deserves what it gets. There should have been a third party (Constitution, America First or possibly Libertarian though they have no moral code, neither do the dems or replics.
The idea of organizing is certainly very good. When the Conquestadors came to Selem, I understand they were paid for taking off work by their union and given money for meals. Problem with America is that people are too wrapped up in their individual freedom to unite I am afraid. A new movie by Mel Gibson Apocalypto shows the demise of Myan culture which is a scary parallel to what is happening in U.S.A.
Freedom & Liberty are Not FREE.
There has been a lot (but not enough!) of discussion about the Bush Social Security benefits for illegal aliens...
The U.S.-Mexico Totalization Agreement whereby illegal aliens will qualify for disability/retirement benefits with a fraction of the time worked that citizens must have. And to pour salt in the wound, the Senate "immigration reform" that would simply break the SS bank.
http://towncriernews.blogspot.com/2005/10/social-security-benefits-for-illegal.html
The U.S. Commissioner of Social Security signed a totalization agreement with the Director General of the Mexican Social Security Institute on June 29, 2004. Now that the agreement has been signed, it must be reviewed first by the State Department, and then by the White House, which will submit it to Congress. Congress will have then have 60 "legislative" days to review the agreement. During this period, current law authorizes either Chamber to pass a Resolution of Disapproval of the agreement, or it will take effect automatically at the end of the 60-day period.[snip]
ACT NOW or kiss your benefits good by :o[
Governor Kulongoski has never disclosed his objective in continuing this practice. It is apparent that a statewide agenda exists to not only allow illegal aliens to function as citizens within Oregon and receive tax paid benefits, but to give preferential treatment to Latinos. The "migrant farmworker" housing and Latino health care and support services springing up in communities throughout the state give the red carpet treatment exclusively to this group.
New construction of migrant farmworker housing is being built in Scappoose. The funding source for this is USDA money. When the neighbors attended a planning commission meeting to protest allowing this housing to be built, they were told they could only submit written comments. The decision to put in this housing had already been made and the community wasn't allowed to participate in that decision. No other low income people in the community can reside there. It's exclusively for Latinos.
DMV continues its double standard of applying stringent rules for Oregonians who bring in their teenage children to apply for learners permits demanding a birth certificate and social security number or no permit. An illegal alien who cannot speak English is held to a different standard - no social security number? No problem. Here's your permit and your voter registration card. A DMV manager, LaVay Jeffries, was fired by Lorna Youngs, head of Oregon DMV, for "racial profiling" when he recognized earmarks of a scam and took action to stop it. This occurred while this Lorna Youngs was a member of this task force. The members of the task force know Oregonians want the state to stop giving ID to those here illegally, but have no intention of stopping.
What we do know is that Oregon's governor and his agency appointees have an agenda that gives preferential treatment to illegal aliens from Mexico regardless of the cost to Oregonians. Oregon needs more roads, improved education and services for our own poor and elderly, but they go to the back of the line while illegal aliens reap benefits handed out by Governor Kulongoski earned by hard working Oregonians.
Governor Kulongoski's reluctance to answer a direct question shows his unwillingness to comply with Real ID Act. If he has to do it, it will only be the barest minimum standard.
I know, it has happened to me on 2 occations and many other people I know of.