Reader's View: Hit the brakes on licenses for ILLEGAL immigrants

The 2019-20 State Budget has passed – and it was taxes, taxes, and even more taxes. I voted “NO!” on Governor Cuomo and the Senate Democratic Majority’s bad budget that contained billions in higher taxes, $100 million in “welfare” for politicians (to finance nasty political campaigns), and reduced sentences to help illegal immigrants evade deportation. The Albany Democrats’ plan was bad for New York and will make our state less affordable.

Senate Democrats pushing licenses for illegals

Unfortunately, Senate Democrats aren’t satisfied with ramming through their bad budget. Now they are focusing on legislation, Senate Bill S.1747, sponsored by New York City Democrat Senator Luis Sepúlveda, allowing the issuance of state driver’s licenses to ILLEGAL immigrants.

Echoes of Eliot (Spitzer)

Giving licenses to illegal immigrants is a terrible idea. Remember Governor Eliot Spitzer? Before resigning office in disgrace, one of Spitzer’s top policy priorities was driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. Spitzer even threatened to remove County Clerks who refused to follow his dictates! Thankfully, our County Clerks stood strong and a statewide, grassroots firestorm of voter anger forced Spitzer to abandon his ill-conceived, illegal policy.

Licenses for illegals: a dangerous double standard

Fast forward 12 years: providing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants remains a terrible idea that will jeopardize traffic safety and public security. Specifically, here are some of the dire consequences if the Senate Democrats’ legislation becomes law:

Creates a double standard for people applying for a standard license. For example, an individual with a Social Security Number would have to provide it, along with verifiable ID docs (6 points), while others would not;

Opens the door to voter fraud, bank fraud, and ID theft;

Bans the DMV from sharing any databases with third parties including law enforcement, hindering their ability to search traffic records during a routine traffic stop;

Allows scofflaws to thwart multiple traffic violations to obtain a license after their actual license has been revoked; and

Creates a loophole for underage children to obtain valid DMV-issued IDs to unlawfully buy alcohol, cigarettes, and possibly soon, “recreational” marijuana.

Sign my petition

The Senate Democratic Majority and Governor Cuomo already pushed their DREAM Act, a $27 million giveaway of free college tuition to the children of illegal immigrants paid for by hard-working, law-abiding taxpayers. Now they want to hand out driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.

We can’t allow Governor Cuomo and the Senate Democratic Majority to turn our Empire State into a Sanctuary State. Go to jordan.nysenate.gov and sign my petition opposing driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. In 2007, New Yorkers spoke out, stood strong and stopped this bad policy. We can do it again!

Contact and connect with me

If I can ever help, call me at (518) 455-2381, e-mail me at jordan@nysenate.gov, visit my Senate webpage at www.jordan.nysenate.gov, or stop by my office: Room 508 LOB, Albany, NY 12247. You can also connect with me on Facebook (Senator Daphne Jordan), Instagram (Senator_Jordan) and Twitter (NY Senator Jordan).

NYS Senator Daphne Jordan serves as the Ranking Minority Member on the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee and represents the 43rd Senate District that includes parts of Rensselaer, Saratoga and Washington counties and all of Columbia County.