Queues for a few blocks: how illegal New Yorkers rush to get a driver’s license
'17.12.2019'
Source: nytimes.com
On December 16, a law came into force in New York that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver’s license. For this, people are ready to wait from early morning until late at night under the offices ofDepartment of Motor Vehicles. The publication writes about this in detail. The New York Times.
The situation in New York
On December 16th, a law came into force in New York that allows illegal state immigrants to apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for a driver’s license. Starting Monday, the queues of people wishing to obtain licenses at the department’s offices stretched for several blocks.
On the same day, a similar Green Light Act was passed in neighboring New Jersey.
The actions that unfolded in these two highly democratic states took place against the backdrop of the tough immigration policy of US President Donald Trump. The head of state’s policy is aimed at restricting entry into the country, and also involves the separation of children from their parents at the border.
Administration actions have led to a heated national debate on immigration issues. New York also joined them when lawmakers approved a bill allowing illegal immigrants to obtain licenses.
This step was positively taken by both undocumented immigrants and activists. On Monday, December 16th, DMV's New York offices were crowded, as people who were previously not eligible to apply for a driver’s license applied for a legal right to drive.
Situation in new jersey
In New Jersey, immigration activists and undocumented immigrants have fought for a driver's license for years. It is worth noting that this state is home to the largest number of immigrants - this is mainly due to the proximity of suburbs and rural areas, where public transport is often unavailable or unreliable.
According to supporters of the new law, tasks such as buying food, going to work, the need to take the child to school and visiting a doctor depend on the ability to legally drive a car.
“It's about survival,” said Eva Gomez, 39, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who lives in Passaic, New Jersey.
On December 16, a fierce battle ended when legislation authorizing the issuance of a driver’s license to illegal immigrants came under the control of the Democratic-controlled State Legislature. Governor Philip D. Murphy said he would quickly sign the law, making New Jersey the 15th state to issue driver licenses to such people.
Illegals waiting in long lines to get drivers license
Another insult to hard working legal Americans#Tucker #hannity #ingrahamangle # KAGA2020 # TRUMP2020Landside #FoxAndFriends #MorningJoe #TuesdayThoughts- Rad123 (@ Tombx7M) December 17 2019 p.
Adriana Gonzalez, 26, of Toms, New Jersey, said it was hard to overestimate how important it would be to get a driver's license for her undocumented parents. “It's kind of a life change,” Miss Gonzalez said. "Driving is the scariest part of our life."
The New York Bill expanded the forms of identity cards that can be used to obtain a driver’s license, and now they include a valid foreign driver’s license, a passport or an identity card from the applicant’s country of origin and a foreign birth certificate. Applicants must pass both written exams and road tests.
A spokeswoman for the motor vehicle department said there were more people at his offices on Monday than usual, as officials had expected.
Queue at DMV Offices
A line-up at DMV New York offices flooded the buildings. At a branch in the Bronx, workers went outside at around 12:30 pm to inform people in line that the test room was full.
By then, 33-year-old Roldan Martinez, who said he was applying for a license for the first time, had been in line for an hour. “There are no more places for today,” he said. "I'll try tomorrow."
In Flushing, Queens, despite the severe cold and snowfall, the DMV office was also full of people who were delighted with the opportunity that the new legislation provided for them.
Carlos Alfredo Guaman, 44, said he arrived at the office before 8:13 am. By 30pm, he may have been halfway to the entrance. “25 years ago I dreamed of driving a motorcycle, but dreams are changing,” Guaman said. - Now I just want to feel what it means to drive a car. I'm 44, I never got a chance. "
Mr. Guaman, a native of Ecuador who works in the construction industry, said he first tried to get a license in New York in 1999. An especially difficult test for him was trying to visit his uncle in Yonkers using only public transport.
But if he gets a license, it will allow him to carry out his plans for the future. “I'll take the car and go to Disneyland,” Guaman said.
Opponents of the new law
Unlike the enthusiasm of those who can now get a driver’s license, the new state law continues to be resisted by some officials in conservative areas in the north of the state who control Motor Vehicles’s offices and who said they would refuse to issue licenses.
An official in Rensselaer County, Frank Merola, said on Monday that his office would not accept applications from illegal immigrants. He explained this by the fact that his employees allegedly do not have the training and experience to determine the authenticity of foreign passports. “During all the years of my stay here, we have never accepted foreign documents,” Merola said in an interview. "Now they want us to stand at the counter and make a decision."
On the subject: Official in New York refused to issue a driver's license to illegal immigrants
He also argued that his decision was practical, not political. Those wishing to apply in Rensselaer County were sent to a larger office in Albany. The officials at this office seemed ready to process applications, and two employees greeted customers at the entrance.
In New Jersey, where all licenses are issued by the State Commission on Cars, activists did not expect such an obstacle. However, the legislative action in Trenton continued for years, while activists tried to dispel both the philosophical objections of opponents and their fears that a “yes” vote could prove politically fatal.
MP Eric Peterson, a Republican from Hunterdon County, said the legislation rewards people for breaking the law. “They broke the law to get here,” Peterson said. - So you accept people who broke the law?
New Jersey residents also warned of unforeseen consequences of the law, such as: the likelihood of accidental registration of illegal immigrants when obtaining a driver's license to vote; the risk of the transfer of immigrant private data to federal immigration authorities; an influx of new immigrants into the state in order to obtain a driver’s license.
Proponents of innovation
These licenses will not be valid as identity cards for flights and will differ from the valid identity cards that will be required at airport checkpoints starting next year.
Brenda S. Fulton, administrator of the New Jersey State Automobile Commission, said granting rights to undocumented immigrants would increase the number of insured drivers. “Our roads are safer when our drivers are trained, tested and insured,” she said last week.
But in the state where the fifth largest population lives without documents, migrants are primarily inclined to talk about the personal benefits of obtaining a driver’s license.
So, Gomez spoke about the difficulties faced by her 11-year-old son when transporting a musical instrument to school, since she cannot drive. The boy, she said, borrowed a baby carriage and uses it to transport his saxophone in this way for 30 minutes. “It's hard to get far this way,” said Ms. Gomez, who has lived in the United States for 13 years.
A resident of Passaiche, Rodriguez lives and works nights at a warehouse in Clifton. When her shift ends at 7 a.m., she gets into the van provided by the company for employees who do not go to work.
These two women are estimated to be among the 450 undocumented driver-age immigrants living in New Jersey.
The economic benefits of the new law
According to an analysis conducted by the New Jersey Policy Perspective think tank, the economic benefits for the state go beyond the individual’s ability to work. The group predicts revenue growth of $ 21 million over three years due to royalties and taxes on the expected growth in sales of gasoline, cars and auto parts.
Washington, New Mexico, and Utah, which were long controlled by Republicans, were among the first states to approve illegal immigrant licenses, partly on the grounds that this would reduce the number of arrivals and increase income and trust between immigrants and the police .
Hallexter Rivero turned three when she left Venezuela for the United States with her mother and sister. Now 20 years old, she majored in biology at Community College in Newark. After class, she goes home by bus. “When you go out at night, it's already dark,” Rivero said. "I would feel 10 times safer if I could go home (by car - Ed.)."
Как earlier писал ForumDaily New York:
- In April 2019, it became known that illegal immigrants in New York may start issuing a driver’s license. This caused a lot of controversy both among officials and among the population. The society was divided into supporters and opponents of the Green Light Act, which permits the granting of rights to migrants who do not have documents.
- In November judge dismissed lawsuit challenging driver's license illegal immigrants of the state of New York.
- On December 16, New York State illegal immigrants were finally allowed to obtain a driver’s license.
- We also recall that the state has many traffic rules, for violation of which you can punish not only with a fine, but generally deprive the right to drive a car.
