Hi… I’m Illegal and I have the Card to Prove It

I was chatting with some folks about this proposal and someone brought up a really good point.

The committee adopted a provision that would allow illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses. The licenses could be used for driving, but not for other purposes.

Rep. Pedro Colón (D-Milwaukee) said it would reduce the number of unlicensed drivers on the road and released letters from law enforcement officials backing the idea because they would know more about drivers they stop.

The cards would have a unique design to distinguish them from other licenses. They would say in bold lettering that they could not be used for purposes other than for driving.

Seriously, what illegal alien is going to go get a card that identifies them as illegal?  Can you imagine how easy that would make it for ICE agents?

1. That is a sweet idea.  Give them all “licenses”, then go pick them all up and ship them home.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 31, 2009 at 0043 hrs




2. I think you’ll be surprised.  The same could be said of home loans for illegal immigrants, but that didn’t seem to stop them from applying.  I can’t tell you how many mortgage applications I’ve seen where the applicant, when asked for his or her SSN, documented that they didn’t have one because they’re here illegally!

   Posted by David Casper on May 31, 2009 at 0753 hrs




3. Owen, I think David Casper is correct.  No one in the State of Wisconsin in law enforcement cares whether there are illegals here or not. 

   Part of this is on the Democrats controlling State and Federal government for not wanting to enforce the laws in order to get more future democratic voters in here. 

   Part of this is on businesses and George Bush and his buddies for wanting cheap and reliable labor the last 10-years. 

   If this recession continues to worsen, it will be interesting to see if the white and black population tries to drift back into the lower tier service industry jobs that have been filled by Mexican immigrants.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 31, 2009 at 1138 hrs




4. Steve’s right.  As much as some conservatives just won’t let it go, nobody’s rounding up the Mexicans and sending them home.  Might as well try to figure out a way to help them improve their lives, which will cost us all less in the long run.

   You can’t blame illegal immigrants for coming here.  By and large, they’re behaving rationally.  Given the reality of the situation, they’re taking a calculated risk, one that many of us would likely take if we were in their shoes.

   You can blame government for not doing enough to keep them out, but that argument’s been lost for so long that you can’t undo the situation that exists today.

   The question for politicians to answer is how one makes lemonade from the lemons when you can’t take the lemons back to the store.

   Posted by Recess Supervisor on May 31, 2009 at 1339 hrs




5. I concur.  You’re assuming law enforcement cares about them being here.  That is obviously not the case, at least here in WI.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 31, 2009 at 1647 hrs




6. RS, you are probably right, we’ll never get to the point where we round them all up and ship them back, but accepting every extra step that legitimizes them further needs to be fought.  And if you believe in right vs wrong, you don’t give up on a fight, just because it isn’t winable.  Every time you give up fighting on one point, the line just get pushed further. 

   Maybe one of the good parts of this downturn will be both a decrease in demand for their services and with high unemployment, we can put some pressue on employers to stop hiring them.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 01, 2009 at 0005 hrs




7. Yep, give up. The police are hamstrung about inquiring of status, and then if they notify federal authorities who may or may not show up in which case they’re stuck with another prisoner to support and answering a fallout of possible rights violations in litigation. Many “illegals"make their seed money involving other illegal activities. Still, others fill in and strengthen the supply side from the “cartels” to the consumer. Check the statistics of the “illegals” we support in judicial, social and financial systems. The mexican government is encouraging people to leave as they realize they have fewer criminals to deal with, fewer jobs to “create”, less housing to build, less medical care and education to provide with a bonus of influx of U.S. dollars(legal and illegal) to bolster THEIR economy(corruption aside). Remember cuba emptying it’s jails and asylums. Its a thrill to live in such neighborhoods being fearful of turf wars or afraid to be pointed out as someone who may have called police about some fight or shooting and never be identified as a witness. Cleaning constant gang graffitti and the results of all night antics is fun. The real trick is trying to raise a family in such environment. This is the result of unfiltered “illegal” immigration. Yes, there may be a valid reason for immigration laws and a necessity for their enforcement. Unless one wrongly believes they can gain a dedicated voting block or make money through providing the needs of “illegals” in rental housing, transportation and business of money transfers. It does create need for legitimate jobs of many social service workers and law enforcement. There is a process in place, but if one does not enforce it, the rationalization will be extended to violation of any law, rule. Any official documentation without intent and followup for enforcement legitimizes their status and circumvents immigration law. We’ve had at least 2 amnesties previously—mid 70’s and 1986 and several congressmen still “serving” since last amnesty saying “no more” at the time

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 01, 2009 at 0055 hrs




8. Incrementalism. First, it’s a license, but it’s different. Then it will be “racist” that it’s diffrent, so they make it look like a regular licesnce. Voila…crammed with illegals and no way to prove it.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 01, 2009 at 1229 hrs




9. Why round them up? Just detain them individually when they apply for this ridiculous license, call ICE and determine their status. Then deport them right from the license office. And you probably wouldn’t even have to print the actual license to boot. Problem solved!

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 02, 2009 at 0027 hrs