Spitzer, DHS reach “compromise” on licenses for illegals
posted at 2:15 pm on October 27, 2007 by Bryan
NY Gov Eliot Spitzer is attempting to dig himself out of his drivers licenses-for-illegal aliens debacle. The Department of Homeland Security is helping him out. The plan itself strikes me as ill conceived.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer, as expected, and US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, has announced what is essentially a compromise in the governor’s mushrooming illegal alien drivers license debate.
Basically, the plan calls for a two, or really a three-track drivers license program in New York: one for illegal immigrants, another that will let citizens cross the Canadian border without a passport (that will soon be a requirement). Thirdly drivers can choose to get a federally-approved Real ID license that will let them board airplanes and enter federal buildings without presenting a passport or other proof of citizenship.
The second two, however, will carry a yet-to-be determined extra cost.
That’s a strange compromise. The first evidently means that NY drivers licenses will no longer be accepted as ID for boarding planes and the like. Spitzer has in effect destroyed NY drivers licenses as valid ID. That “extra cost” line means that US citizens will pay more for their Real ID drivers licences than illegal aliens will in the state of New York if they want to be able to use those licenses for ID purposes other than driving, as they routinely have up to now.
Having to pay more than illegal aliens so that you can maintain the same services you already had is going to make citizens happy? I don’t think so.
This is just like the DREAM Act, which would grant in-state tuition benefits to illegals, in effect giving them a cost break that citizens who live outside a given state can’t get. So once again, the government is making the up front costs of citizenship outweigh the up front costs of breaking the law. It’s immoral and very dumb. The latter may explain why Chertoff’s DHS is signing off on it. Maybe they’ll gin up a fake press conference to tell us all how great it is.
(via Ace)
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Spitzer is a real nut job. What were the people of New York thinking? Oh, never mind.
bopbottle on October 27, 2007 at 2:20 PM
The last sane people in New York, please turn the lights out when you leave.
bj1126 on October 27, 2007 at 2:20 PM
Well the County Clerks of NY stood up to spitzer. They told him fine we will give out Dls to Illegals. Then promptly report them to ICE.
http://www.poststar.com/articles/2007/10/26/ap-state-ny/d8sgh1100.txt
Clerks say they’ll report illegals who apply for
licenses
By CAROLYN THOMPSON
Published: Friday, October 26, 2007
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Erie County Clerk Kathleen Hochul says
she’ll follow Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s directive to accept
driver’s license applications from illegal immigrants.
Then she’ll follow the law, she said, and report the
applicants to authorities for possible arrest and
deportation.
—————
Spitzer reply ? He told them that they would be racists and he might prosecute them for racial profiling
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/niagaracounty/story/192683.html
Clerks accused of profiling in threat to arrest
illegals seeking licenses
By Tom Precious – NEWS ALBANY BUREAU
Updated: 10/26/07 8:31 AM
ALBANY — The Spitzer administration and immigration
rights groups say the county clerks in Erie and
Niagara counties will be engaging in inappropriate
profiling with their plan to alert police when illegal
immigrants seek to obtain driver’s licenses.
Critics said the clerks will be acting purely on a
hunch and that people in the country legally could
find themselves being inappropriately detained by
police because they were wrongly suspected of being
illegal immigrants.
“It’s an attack on undocumented immigrants. It’s not
the job of county clerks to enforce the immigration
laws. It’s a federal problem,” said Norman Eng, an
immigration attorney with the New York Immigration
Coalition, an umbrella group of 200 organizations.
William Amos on October 27, 2007 at 2:25 PM
Oh let’s see, Chertoff and Spitzer. The two people I would trust least on this issue. Let’s hope the NY legislature has some cajones.
MNDavenotPC on October 27, 2007 at 2:31 PM
What a complete crock of fools!
Ok..that’s it…
I’m out’a here for this afternoon….too much bovine scatology for a very beautiful fall day as it is, to be sitting here and reading this bullcrap!!.
Mcguyver on October 27, 2007 at 2:37 PM
People have to stop attributing these sell-out policies to Chertoff or the DHS. This stuff comes straight from Bush, and I think it’s time we all start saying so. Chertoff is an empty suit that does what he’s told.
greggish on October 27, 2007 at 2:38 PM
An easier way out would be just not to give drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. I guess that is just too simple to comprehend for elected officials.
katieanne on October 27, 2007 at 2:41 PM
That would prevent them from being registered to vote. Here in NY, that happens when you get a license. Some people have speculated that this is a Spitzer present to Hillary. Can’t say. But Spitzer is a very ambitious and ruthless guy. You can be sure he’s already contemplating his re-election, and beyond.
We’re a one-party state. Think Louisiana with sharks instead of alligators.
JiangxiDad on October 27, 2007 at 2:51 PM
What is this REAL ID?
What is a Driver’s License anyway?
Beware of Liberal Double-Speak.
Liberals use same words with different meanings.
ColtsFan on October 27, 2007 at 2:53 PM
Wonderful. Class warfare aided by the government, along with the endorsement of illegal aliens.
madmonkphotog on October 27, 2007 at 2:54 PM
Spitzers whole goal is to provide illegals with some sort of valid ID so they can vote. He couldn’t care less what the ID is or what it’s used for.
Bush and his DHS cronies are destroying this country. They are definitely in cahoots with the democrats on this. Treasonous bastards. The people of this country must begin to take the law in their own hands. It’s incumbent on us becuase the government has failed so miserably.
darwin on October 27, 2007 at 2:54 PM
Why am I being financially “coerced” through higher taxes to pay for a federally funded, incompetent, inefficient, relatively new Department of Homeland Security that is not even doing its job!!!
What is the purpose of Homeland Security anyway if the dept head is going to reward law-breakers with identification cards?
What is going on in America?
Why do we even have borders in America if we are going to reward law-breakers with the gift of USA citizenship or the gift of identification cards?
Why even have borders if Bush, New York democrats, and the department of Homeland Security have an “Open Borders” mentality?
ColtsFan on October 27, 2007 at 2:58 PM
I just got back home in Western, NY on Tuesday from a 2 week vacation in Japan. As if I needed more motivation not to live in NY, Japan seems like a very nice alternative now. NY State officials, you just continue to suck any small amount of joy out of living here.
I think it’s finally time to move. I really hate NY.
DakRoland on October 27, 2007 at 2:59 PM
Someone who knows what they’re doing should file a class action lawsuit against the federal government for failing to do it’s primary job of defending this country from all invaders.
darwin on October 27, 2007 at 3:01 PM
Same here. But it is a beautiful state, great nature. The thought of leaving has made me appreciate what it once was more keenly. I would like to stay. I don’t think I will be able to. Good luck.
JiangxiDad on October 27, 2007 at 3:04 PM
Is it wrong to wish for the days of George Pataki or Mario Cuomo?
hadsil on October 27, 2007 at 3:06 PM
Norman Eng, an alleged cartooney for the ILLEGAL ALIENS, said that it wasn’t the job of county clerks to enforce immigration law.
EVERY official, regardless if federal, state, or local, is required to swear an oath to UPHOLD AND DEFEND the Constitution of the United States. From cop and dog-catcher to mayor to Senator/Representative to President. Oh, and it also applies to attorneys like Norman Eng, as well, who took the same oath when he was admitted to the state bar.
In the case under discussion, the oath of office they willingly (and without purpose of evasion) take specifically means that they are *REQUIRED* to report illegal aliens, as federal law is clear. The fact that some a-hole politicians have ordered otherwise does not absolve them of the requirement to do so under their oath.
If I were the US Attorney General, I’d be holding grand jury investigations against those mayors who declare their cities to be “sanctuaries” with the promise of prosecution upon the presentation of a “True Bill.”
But that could be just my amygdalae taking, too.
georgej on October 27, 2007 at 3:08 PM
Yes! They, along with Hillary and Schumer, and others here, built the fire. Spitzer is lighting it.
JiangxiDad on October 27, 2007 at 3:09 PM
Legal conservatives in the state of NY should sue their government. Note to lawyers of any persuasion – here’s a good source. Go for it.
Entelechy on October 27, 2007 at 3:10 PM
In whose administration?
JiangxiDad on October 27, 2007 at 3:10 PM
Your, of course!
georgej on October 27, 2007 at 3:22 PM
Didn’t a Republican just finish 3 terms as governor? Doesn’t anything the Democrats want to do in the state have to be worked out with Republican Joe Bruno?
If you mean that all the leading Republicans in NY are essentially liberal–I agree.
dedalus on October 27, 2007 at 3:27 PM
Between Spitzer and the Bush administration I’m sure they’ll cook up something to hurt the security and sovereignty of America. We are so screwed.
Buzzy on October 27, 2007 at 4:08 PM
With SKELETORE and Spitzer those of us here in the southwest might as well give up.
” I HATE YOU GUYS,”
Eric Cartman
400lb Gorilla on October 27, 2007 at 4:27 PM
Spitzer issued an executive order regarding this. There was no debate in the NYS Legislature. Of course it is to increase political power and I suspect it was Hillary giving the marching orders to Spitzer.
No elected representation was allowed to be held. No public referandum, nothing. 1 stroke of a pen and now illegals have a NY Drivers Lincense. Thank goodness the county clerks are standing up to this nonsense.
robo on October 27, 2007 at 4:51 PM
Won’t this make NY State a sancuary state? Isn’t that against the law? OMG I can just see the illegals flocking here now. My CT town is on the NY state border, I can’t imagine how much worse it is going to get.
ctmom on October 27, 2007 at 5:13 PM
What would be cheaper? To enforce the law and deport illegal aliens, or set up a whacked out three tiered identification/drivers license/get out of jail free card???
This ridiculous drivers license idea will end up being another gazillion dollar boondoggle impossible to oversee.
I’m not exactly proud to admit I was born in New York. Elliot Spitzer is an a**hat……
STOP SPENDING MY MONEY ON STOOPID SH&T!!!!!
MORONS!!!
commonsensehoosier on October 27, 2007 at 5:23 PM
LOL, what a bunch of fools. If one takes the time to read the registration requirement for Selective Service. Illegals are supposed to register for the draft. From the Illinois Review.
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2007/10/selective-servi.html
Maybe they can get them to sign up at the same time they get their drivers license.
BobK on October 27, 2007 at 6:32 PM
and
Someone who knows what they’re doing should file a class action lawsuit against the federal government for failing to do it’s primary job of defending this country from all invaders.
darwin on October 27, 2007 at 3:01 PM
If Bill Clinton had tried 1/4 of the Sovereignty-undermining stunts that GWB has pulled off, Republicans would have been calling for his impeachment. With GWB doing these things, however, he enjoys the SUPPORT of people like Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, etc.
The only major talkers who seem clearly to see through Bush’s anti-Sovereignty biases are Michael Savage and Laura Ingraham.
If we were 1/2 the patriots our forefathers were, we would already be well past a new “Boston Tea Party,” and marching — guns in hands — to a new “Lexington and Concord.”
But, sadly, we (and I include myself in this) are not…
The open contempt — whether its seeking to grant illegals amnesty, or pushing for a North American Union, or pushing for more “free trade” agreements that primarily benefit the upper five per cent in this country, or pushing for passage of the LOST Treaty — that GWB exhibits on a daily basis for American sovereignty is a slap in every patriot’s face.
Trouble is, it seems that we have taken to just grinning and asking him to slap us again.
If we were truly outraged, the candidates Tancredo and Hunter would be more than “second tier” candidates.
sanantonian on October 27, 2007 at 9:49 PM
sanantonian on October 27, 2007 at 9:49 PM
I could not have said it better. Bush is getting by with too much! He is eroding our sovereignty for his (and his father’s) version of a new world order, starting with the north american union, which he has begun with Mexico and Canada.
Neocon Peg on October 27, 2007 at 10:30 PM
It’s like Double Secret Probation!!!!
Well, just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse in my state, here ya go!!!
HarryStar on October 28, 2007 at 1:00 AM