Immigrant licenses a hot topic

Senate Bill 60, the most recent version of this legislation, was introduced by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles. The bill addressed the concerns of former Gov. Gray Davis by restricting licenses to those who already began legalizing their status, have no criminal records, can provide a federal taxpayer identification number in lieu of a Social Security number and have lived in the state several years. The bill passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee 12-4 vote with two abstentions. It will now head for a vote of the full state Assembly.

"Licenses are a very hard issue. It's been a two-year game, where the ball is the immigrants and everybody wants to kick it," Arajuo said.

Arajuo is a legal resident who came to the United States when he was 12 years old. In his experience, he said people don't care if they have a conventional license, they just want something that allows them to drive.

"We have to get places safely when driving in the street. The way to punish them is not deporting them or impounding their car. That won't solve the problem," Arajuo said.

Arajuo suggested the institution of a certificate. It would look similar to a California driver's license, except instead of being set on a horizontal grid, it would be set up vertically. It will be visibly different but allow people to get to work, school or the hospital legally.

Arajuo explained a fee like $125 for such a certificate seems reasonable when how much people pay for fake documentation is considered.

"Why not make the people pay for the real one?" Arajuo said. Getting rid of the immigrants would cause our economy to fail, Arajuo said.

Mike Spense, director of SaveOurLicense.com out of Southern California, disagreed.

"We oppose giving a gift that encourages people to come here illegally. It's bad for California and bad for the country. It makes a mockery of legal immigration. People who have waited years to come here and they're cutting in line," Spense said.

SaveOurLicense.com was organized in 2003 during the recall election.

"Proponents are lying to the public saying these people will get a license and become law-abiding citizens," Spense said. "Suddenly they've become good citizens, that doesn't make any sense."

For more information visit SaveOurLicense.com or the National Immigration Law Center, www.niic.org. To contact Centro Azteca de Informacion call (650) 921-0361.