New York Governor Eliot Spitzer sparked controversy with his plan to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants who submit foreign passports or other documents.
Opponents, primarily Republicans, charge that this rewards illegal immigration, allows terrorists to move freely and might prevent New York driver’s licenses from being accepted as identification at airports for domestic flights. This is of course related to attacks on immigration in general and illegal immigration in particular.
Supporters, primarily Democrats, respond that this brings illegal immigrants into the light of normal behavior and fosters law enforcement of traffic laws.
It is rather odd that these illegal aliens are referred to as undocumented immigrants if they are presenting passports. What illegal aliens obtain passports anyway? In many countries such things are very expensive and hard to obtain. Even in the United States most adults do not have passports. In other words, Spitzer may be engaged in another of his puppet shows.
As for his opponents, the claim that New Yorkers would not be able to board domestic flights is spurious. If I was a foreigner travelling from New York to Los Angeles, I would present my passport for identification. Foreigners also drive here with foreign documents. In other words, his opponents may be engaged in another of their puppet shows.
Let us ask an unasked question. Why should anyone have to have permission of the government to drive? Why should there be driver’s licenses in the first place? Are they compatible with a free society? -30-
(About the author: Richard Cooper is an export/import manager for a Long Island New York manufacturing firm which amongst other things manufactures lamps used to examine suspect documents. He is the former State Chair of the Libertarian Party of New York www.ny.lp.org. He blogs at www.mythsmasher.blogspot.com.)