Calif. Gov. OKs Bill on Illegal Immigrant Licenses

[Lasher]

Source: ABC News

Some illegal immigrants could get California drivers licenses under a bill that Gov. Jerry Brown announced he signed into law late Sunday.

AB2189 by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, will let the Department of Motor Vehicles issue licenses to illegal immigrants eligible for work permits under a new Obama administration policy. The bill requires the department to accept as proof of legal residence whatever document the federal government provides to participants in its deferred action program.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/calif-gov-oks-bill-illegal-immigrant-licenses-17363121#.UGlon5jA_QQ

[pampango]

1. "...other Republicans argued the state should leave immigration issues to the federal government."

Cedillo said his bill will make roads safer while letting young immigrants drive to school and to work. His reasoning drew support from several Republican lawmakers, while other Republicans argued the state should leave immigration issues to the federal government.

"It is a victory for those who were brought here through no choice of their own, played by the rules, and are only asking to be included in and contribute to American society," Cedillo said in a statement.

He said California is the first state to grant drivers' licenses to the group singled out under the Obama administration's policy. Cedillo praised Brown for choosing "public safety over politics" by signing the bill.

"President Obama has recognized the unique status of these students, and making them eligible to apply for driver's licenses is an obvious next step," Brown spokesman Gil Duran said.

"other Republicans argued the state should leave immigration issues to the federal government."

The concept of 'leaving immigration issues to the federal government' would get these California republicans kicked out of the party in Arizona, Alabama and several other republican-run states.

[jonesgirl]

2. Why don't they just make them apply for citizenship? What's the real deal here? Money maker??

Romney has stated he would make all illegal immigrants citizens IF they serve in our military. He stated this a few weeks ago.
Also, I don't understand why the Federal Government isn't stepping in on this, and why do they make laws then leave it up to the States to do with it whatever they wish? For example, Florida Governor Rick Scott said there would be no way he would ever impose Obamacare on the citizens of Florida...this was a few days after it was ruled constitutional. Now there is major push to appeal Obamacare, and to push out the politicians who voted for it.
I just don't understand what's really going on in our government system.

[slackmaster]

3. Maybe now they can start prosecuting illegal immigrants who get caught driving without licenses

Because there will no longer be any excuse for driving without one.

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. Except this only applies to a subset of undocumented workers.

The young ones Obama gave a break to.

The rest will continue to drive without licenses and insurance because we would much rather stick it to the undocumented than worry about highway safety.

[Lasher]

11. And therefore, they are neither illegal nor undocumented.

Once they have honestly satisfied the requirements of Obama's amnesty, that is.

[lauramolina]

4. Stop using the word "illegal"!

It's "undocumented", no human being is "illegal".

Isn't this supposed to be a progressive web site?

[Dr. Strange]

6. Welcome to DU!

Lasher is following the Statement of Purpose for Latest Breaking News:

Statement of Purpose

Post the latest news from reputable mainstream news websites and blogs. Important news of national interest only. No analysis or opinion pieces. No duplicates. News stories must have been published within the last 12 hours. Use the published title of the story as the title of the discussion thread.

[lauramolina]

8. Re: "Illegal Immigrants"

I was asking members posting comments not to use the de-humanizing term "illegal immigrants", Not pointing out the title of the post itself.

[ROBROX]

9. CORRECT

My grand parents were not born in the USA. One grand parent read in the paper that a city hall was destroyed in a fire and all records were burned. He sent a letter for a copy of a birth record. He was born in Wales. My other grand parents are from Mexico and neither had trouble crossing the border (one by ship, the other by land.)
I do not think anyone should be stopped from getting a license since the main issue is passing the test versus who you are and why.

[Bette Noir]

7. I'm going to have to reassess Gov. Moonbeam.

I've resented him ever since the draconian budget cuts he instituted in the early '80s hit me right in the wallet. I was a low-wage State employee who had been working for several years without a raise. The legislature voted a $300 bonus to those in my situation, which Brown vetoed.

I actually left CA when he was elected a coupla years ago, but it looks like he's now doing a dandy job.

[ROBROX]

10. I voted for moon beam twice

This guy sure knows how to walk the line and try to make both groups of people happy. I wish I could have voted for his father who was also Governor of California. The moon beam has some great ethics and could have been a religious person versus political person.
If this person could have been more effective as a national versus local leader this country would had made PROGRESS with going forward versus going backward with the GOP crap.