Los Angeles Times
By Patrick McGreevey
May 6, 2014
Federal
authorities have rejected California's proposed design for a driver's
license for immigrants in the U.S. illegally, saying it is not
distinguishable enough for
security purposes from permits given to citizens.
The
Washington officials want the license to state clearly on its face
"that it is not acceptable for official federal purposes" and to have a
design or color that differentiates
it at a glance from other licenses.
The
current design does not differ from other California licenses except
for a subtle mark on the front and a disclaimer on the back in small
print: "This card is not
acceptable for official federal purposes."
Officials
said Tuesday that the decision by the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security could delay distribution of the first licenses because
immigrant-rights activists
have vowed to fight proposals that would make them look significantly
different from other licenses.
The
activists consider conspicuous markings to be a kind of scarlet letter.
They and others say such marks could lead to mistreatment.
"Covering
the fronts of licenses with this information that Homeland Security is
demanding would subject the holders to unnecessary discrimination and
possible harassment,"
said state Sen. Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles).
Leaders
of the Latino Legislative Caucus called on California's congressional
delegation Tuesday to demand that Homeland Security officials
reconsider.
The
decision "is disappointing and troubling," said a statement by Sen.
Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Assemblyman Luis Alejo
(D-Watsonville), the chairman and vice
chairman, respectively, of the caucus.
"We
strongly believe that the design submitted by California satisfies the
intent of the law, by including a distinctive mark on the front, and the
required statement
on the surface of the license," they said.
They wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, asking him to allow the California design.
"As
you know, immigrants are statistically more likely to be the victims of
crime and are often primary targets for scams, discrimination,
retaliation and extortion in
encounters with a diverse set of unscrupulous actors," the lawmakers
wrote.
For
that reason, the California design is meant to provide "adequate
protections for vulnerable community members from discrimination," they
said. Approval of the California
design, they argued, would be "confirming that DHS will not exploit the
program for immigration enforcement purposes."
State Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) also sent an appeal to Johnson.
Meanwhile,
the California Department of Motor Vehicles will go back to the drawing
board, said Armando Botello, a spokesman for the agency.
"The
DMV will continue to work vigorously with lawmakers, affected
communities and federal officials to design a license that complies with
federal law and allows over
a million undocumented California residents to drive legally and safely
on state roads," Botello said in a statement.
He refused to release a copy of the new license design.
Gov.
Jerry Brown signed a measure last year allowing the DMV to provide
driver's licenses by Jan. 1, 2015, to those in the country illegally.
The governor said it would
help people get to their jobs and schools and guarantee that they take a
test to show that they are safe drivers.
In
addition to the disclaimer on the back, the proposed license has the
letters DP ("driving privilege") on the front instead of DL ("driver's
license").
The
Real ID Act approved by Congress in 2005 requires markings "to allow
Federal officials to quickly determine whether a license or
identification card may be acceptable
for official purposes" including "accessing Federal facilities,
boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft or entering nuclear
power plants," according to the rejection letter.
The letter is dated May 1 and was released by the DMV on Tuesday.
State Sen. Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) said the state should take Washington's warning seriously.
"Clearly national security demands our state not assist in hiding people who reside here illegally," Anderson said.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
No comments:
Post a Comment