WHILE the passing of the comprehensive immigration bill gets stalled in Congress, undocumented immigrants in California may soon be able to get drivers’ licenses. As Balitang America’s LA Correspondent Steve Angeles reported, this may happen in less than six months, thanks to AB60 — a bill that was signed into law by Governor Gerry Brown in October 2013, and will take effect in January 2015.
Advocates like Anthony Ng are preparing for that day that will affect about half a million undocumented Asians living in California.
Angeles’ profile of Ng on Balitang America illustrated how until Ng got his driver’s license, through President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, he said his daily school load, work, and advocacy were difficult to manage.
“I preferred to take the metro because I was so scared to be pulled over, I would be arrested or whatever. My brother, when he wasn’t a US citizen yet, he had an expired driver’s license. He got pulled over and had a bad encounter with the police. I was so scared of having that same experience I decided to take a two hour metro bus rather than having a one hour drive,” Ng of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice told Balitang America.
California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is now going through a public comment period as it considers how to initiate the new law.
Ng stressed that with the application process expected to be similar to basic driving requirements, it’s time to prepare.
“We encourage people, or members of our community to renew their passports if they have the ability to. We know there’s some process in that and some difficulties but were trying to make sure it’s accessible as possible within the AB60 context. As well as making sure you’re able to renew your residency here in California, you have tax returns, bank accounts or folks who have names in utility bills — those things you can use,” he explained.
Angeles reported that several states have laws that allow undocumented immigrants to drive legally. However, federal law requires the licenses to look different from the standard state driver’s licenses for federal security reasons.
While the ability to drive legally is welcomed by immigrant rights advocates, some are proceeding with caution, seeking assurances that availing of this privilege may not jeopardize their long term goal of obtaining legal status in America.
“We encourage the DMV to add provisions to ensure that AB60 licenses are treated like any other California driver license by law enforcement officers and agencies,” said Julia Harumi Mass, Senior Staff Attorney of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California.
After the DMV’s public comment period ends this month, it will host a series of town hall meetings throughout the state, hoping to hear suggestions on how to finally begin this new law.
Critics of this privilege for the undocumented contend that drivers licenses for the undocumented should look DIFFERENT from the regular drivers’ licenses given to those with legal papers.
Do you agree with this proposal?
It looks like a majority of the viewers of Balitang America who voted agree with the proposal.
Fifty four percent say drivers licenses to be issued to the undocumented should definitely look different.
Some argue and opine that these immigrants without legal papers broke the law and should not be rewarded with the privileges and stature given to those who obey the laws.
Forty six percent disagree, stating discrimination in any form is against the law and should never be tolerated.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
