Photo by nissisoftware on Pixabay Driver's Licenses and Unauthorized Immigrants
Hayley, Undergraduate Student (UM-Dearborn) There are currently just 13 states that allow undocumented immigrants to legally acquire a driver’s license including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. Along with these 13 states, the country’s capitol, Washington D.C., also allows unauthorized immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses (Motion Law Immigration, 2020). Allowing unauthorized immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses federally is necessary in order to ensure public safety, prevent crime, and to provide unauthorized immigrants with necessary opportunities. Unauthorized immigration is one of the most divisive issues in the United States of America. There are an estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the country, and around 8 million of which are working in America (Waters, 2017). Due to the lack of efficient public transportation in America, the majority of those 8 million unauthorized immigrants need to drive to get to work. Just because someone doesn’t have a driver’s license does not mean that they’re not going to drive. However, the problem is that this means that there are a lot of unlicensed and uninsured drivers on the road. Many policy makers believe that granting unauthorized immigrants with driver’s licenses is in the best interest of public safety. It is important to know who is driving on the roads and making sure that drivers are operating vehicles that are registered and insured in case accidents or other traffic violations occur. According to studies based in California, allowing unauthorized immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses improves public safety. For example, allowing unauthorized immigrants to obtain a driver’s license would prevent crimes like hit-and-run car accidents because they wouldn’t be inclined to abandon the scene out of fear of their immigration status being exposed. The Federal Government is aware that the driver’s license is vital to success and survival in the United States. In 2005, the Federal Government signed the Real ID Act into law which required people to prove their identity in order to receive a valid driver’s license. Requirements in order to receive a government issued Real ID include proof of address, a birth certificate, a social security card, and federal scan capability. Unauthorized immigrants that are unable to legally obtain a driver’s license are left with no option other than to operate motor vehicles without any kind of driver’s license or to create counterfeit driver’s licenses that they can use to drive and apply for jobs and housing. Therefore, along with lessening the amount of hit-and-run accidents, allowing unauthorized immigrants to legally secure a driver’s license would also prevent people from committing the crime of creating fraudulent driver’s licenses. Not only would allowing unauthorized immigrants to acquire driver’s licenses ensure public safety and prevent crime, it would also provide immigrants with vital opportunities necessary to surviving in America in addition to simply being able to operate a motor vehicle legally. Government issued photo identification such as a driver’s license is necessary in order to obtain employment, secure housing, apply for benefits including health care, and open a bank account. Those who oppose allowing unauthorized immigrants to legally attain driver’s licenses argue that doing so endorses and encourages people to break the law but it’s important to note that immigrants don’t come to the United States for a driver’s license, and being ineligible for a driver’s license isn’t going to cause undocumented immigrants to leave the United States, nor is it going to stop people from driving. Due to this, it’s important to ensure public safety, prevent crime, and to provide immigrants with necessary opportunities by legally allowing undocumented immigrants to attain driver’s licenses federally. References: 1. Lueders, Hans, et al. 29 Mar. 2017. “Providing Driver's Licenses to Unauthorized Immigrants in California Improves Traffic Safety.” PNAS, National Academy of Sciences. (www.pnas.org/content/early/2017/03/28/1618991114). 2. Motion Law Immigration. 27 Feb. 2020. “Can Undocumented Immigrants Obtain a Driver's License in the US?” (www.motionlaw.com/can-undocumented-immigrants-obtain-a-drivers-license-in-the-us/).
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