Governor Spitzer
Dear Governor Spitzer:
Recently, you announced that you would require the DMV (and, by extension, County Clerks) to issue NYS drivers’ licenses to illegal aliens. Why?
First of all, I’m not happy with the notion that a state agency would be making determinations on a patently federal question. One’s immigration status is a matter for the INS DHS - not Kathy Hochul.
Second of all, did you know that there’s an election coming up in a few weeks? Yeah, it’s not statewide, but this decision has ramifications on existing Clerks’ races. For instance, Kathy Hochul - whom you appointed - is opposed to this idea. Unfortunately, she is stuck between a rock and a hard place. She can issue the licenses and incur the wrath of the voters (but uphold her oath of office), or she can violate her oath of office and risk jail time. Meanwhile, Bill “Fed Up” O’Loughlin is buying two-color full page ads in Section A of the Buffalo News, informing all and sundry that he’ll go to jail.
I don’t know, frankly, what the policy benefit is here. What’s the purpose of this decision?
Lastly, you may know that Buffalo and WNY are on an international border. In order to cross that border, we and our Canadian neighbors have heard a different story just about every week as to what sort of ID (if any) will be required to make that crossing. The federal government is working on the requirements for a “Real ID” which would enable the NYSDL to also be used as proof of citizenship or legal residence in the US. This might obviate the need for WNYers and Southern Ontarians to obtain costly passports, which take months to receive. I know this from personal experience that almost put the kibosh on an international flight.
I don’t know if this was to be used as a distraction for the ridiculous feud with Bruno that has been preoccupying everybody in Albany or what, but please reconsider this decision of yours which isn’t a positive development on any front.
Love, BP
steve Says:October 10th, 2007 at 8:30 am
Dear Gov –
What he said.
s.
Carl Says:October 10th, 2007 at 11:13 am
Great idea Spitz! Let’s give drivers licenses to illegals so we can make sure they don’t stay in one place (and therefore make them even harder to catch and deport). An alien who receives a deportation notice in the mail can just get into his or her car and drive accross the Canadian border (or out to Utah or Wymoing or New Jersey or wherever) and escape the DHS. This is an absolutely absurd policy and is turning New York into (ugh, I hate catch phrases) a “sanctuary state.”
The policy behind this law is premised on the idea that it’s better to have illegals out in the open. Illegals will drive anyway, so why not make sure they have passed a drivers test?
But, that said, this policy represents a dangerous precedent. It’s part of a long line of policy that does not treat illegals for what they are — criminals. It’s the same as allowing illegals to call the police if there is trouble at their home without fear of being referred to the DHS for deportation. This is a policy I reject. Why not give drug dealers the same free pass? (e.g., a drug dealer who cuts themselves doling out drugs in his apartment can call the police without fear of being prosecuted for drug trafficking).
LC Scotty Says:October 10th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
It really is refreshing to see just how much weight St. Eliot of the Street really places on the rule of law.
This guy is nothing but a liar and a hypocrite.
hank Says:October 10th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Folks, Please look at the example that North Carolina has set as “DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU” regarding this issue.
Sheriffs in NJ and PA are complaning to the governor of NC that every illegal they catch up there has a NC drivers license. In fact, a check found that over 50 illegal aliens had used the same home address to get a license. Nobody’s paying any attention down here, and the Governor and the Commissioner of the DMV seem to give not a shit about it.
NC is already a “sanctuary state” for these people. NY has more problems than NC does to begin with. They don’t EVEN want to open this freakin’ can. You’ll never get a lid on it.
This Morning’s FOX news was interviewing Mexicans who have fled over the border to Windsor. They can apply for “asylum status” and live in Canada for 2 years while their cases are reviewed. The reporter asked them if
1. they got better welfare there
2. they got better medical care there
3. If they liked Canada better than the US
to which the ladies kept answering SI, SI, Si !!!!!
NY already has the same flaws that NC has in its system.
You can go to the DMV in NYC and give them an address that would be half way into the East River, and they’ll put it on your license. Guliani already calls NYC a “Sanctuary City”.
Aren’t you paying enough taxes already? Open the gates and watch the hoardes of illegals come to NYS.
Spitzers GOT to be on some kind of hallucinogen for even suggesting it.
TheRover Says:October 10th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Some points to ponder:
Putin has secret police.
Spitzer has secret police.
Putin rules by decree.
Now Spitzer rules by decree.
Spitzer believes 2 things will happen regarding DL’s for illegals,
1) this move will buy him many, many votes
2) dollars generated from issueing licsenses (good for 7 yrs) will help fill the $9 billion hole the comptroller sees coming.
3) he’ll sell it in the guise of “public safety”
Q: Aren’t government employees obliged to report illegal activity to the proper authorities i.e. report undocumented aliens?
A: Only if it was negotiated in their contract.
(thats a joke, but probably true, which is a bigger joke, on us)
With only nine months in office this clown has irked so many people on so many fronts I truely believe he’ll implode and either be indicted for wreckless abuses of people and power, or taken away in a straight jacket snapping and snarling like a deranged rabid pit bull.
One can only hope….