Who's Country is this?
Who's country is this? Does it belong to the citizens or to those who want to come here ILLEGALY? i was raised to believe it was the citizens born and naturalized. However every day more and more articals appear that make me think that as a citizen i do not rate the liberties and rights granted by my forefathers in the Constitution. I am begining to wonder if my time in the military was in service of foriegn nationals and not Americans. Immigrants decry license bill
They oppose barring illegal residents from driving legally
By STEVEN WALTERS and CRAIG GILBERTswalters@journalsentinel.com
Posted: May 4, 2005
Madison - Hispanic immigrants - including one who said he was in the country illegally - pleaded with legislators Wednesday not to limit the issuance of new driver's licenses only to those who can prove they are American citizens or who are aliens in the country legally.
Immigrant IDs
Quotable
I'm really scared right now, if I get caught without a license. We’re not asking for much — just a little bit.
- Angel Porras,Of Whitewater, who said he was in the country illegally
If you’re here on a limited basis, I think that should be known to the public.
- State Rep. Mark Pettis (R-Hertel),His bill requires that licenses issued to resident aliens lapse at same time as their visas
Recent Coverage
5/2/05: Congress agrees on immigration rules for driver's licenses
Archive Coverage
Section: State Politics
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"I'm really scared right now, if I get caught without a license," said Angel Porras, 27, of Whitewater, who said he was in the country illegally. "We're not asking for much - just a little bit."
Porras said he and other Hispanic immigrants want only a chance to work hard and get ahead in America.
"I want to have everything you guys have," he told members of the Assembly's Criminal Justice and Homeland Security Committee.
Jorge Islas-Martinez, one of whose four part-time jobs is teaching English as a second language to Whitewater high school students, said "every single immigrant" in America has felt that they are being personally blamed for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"We work hard," said Islas-Martinez, 29, who came to the United States from Mexico City about 16 years ago. "We're trying to do our best."
"Right now, my license is my life," said Miguel Serna of Fort Atkinson, who came to America in 1986 and who now works as a welder and clown. Without a driver's license, he said, "you're going to feel like every cop is going to stop you."
But Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin) said many other states have changed their laws to require proof of legal residency before anyone is issued a new driver's license. His bill (AB-148) would prohibit issuing licenses to people who cannot prove they are legal residents.
Congress is considering legislation that would prod states to adopt that as a national standard. The measure is expected to be approved today by the House and next week by the Senate.
Gundrum conceded that he knew of no Hispanic who has been linked or suspected of terrorism.
But he said that individuals who want to harm Americans could take advantage of Wisconsin's weak laws to get a driver's license, set up bank accounts and lay the groundwork to carry out those attacks.
A driver's license or state-issued ID is "really a stamp of approval," Gundrum said.
"Wisconsin is becoming a mecca for folks illegally in the country to get their licenses here."
First-time licenses
Gundrum also told opponents of his measure that it would stop only the issuance of first-time licenses to anyone who could not prove legal residency, so anyone who now has a valid Wisconsin driver's license could renew it.
A similar bill (AB-69) proposed by of Rep. Mark Pettis (R-Hertel) would go one step further.
Like Gundrum's bill, Pettis' measure would require that licenses issued to resident aliens lapse at the same time as their visas.
But unlike Gundrum's bill, Pettis' proposal would have the expiration date of the visa on the license.
"If you're here on a limited basis, I think that should be known to the public," Pettis said.
But Maria Castilla, a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater senior majoring in international business, said she and other Hispanics would feel targeted if their Wisconsin-issued driver's licenses expired on the day that their visas lapsed.
If licenses also listed the dates their visas expire, business executives interviewing Hispanic immigrants for jobs would ask, "Shall we hire this person?" because of their uncertain futures, Castilla said.
Now, regular Wisconsin driver's licenses are good for eight years; probationary licenses, three years; and ID cards, four years.
State Department of Transportation officials Erin Egan and Gary Guenther also argued against the measures, saying in a statement that they would "lead to increases in unlicensed and uninsured drivers on the road."
The change would force the DOT to hire more staff members and also cause longer lines at Division of Motor Vehicle offices, Egan and Guenther said.
The committee did not vote on the bills Wednesday and set no date for a vote.
Federal measure advancing
Meanwhile Wednesday, U.S. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., a Republican from Menomonee Falls, touted the new federal rules that would make it harder for illegal aliens to receive driver's licenses.
Sensenbrenner, House judiciary chairman, said driver's licenses would no longer be "the perfect breeder documents" for terrorists.
Sensenbrenner said the measure would prompt states such as Wisconsin that don't currently require applicants to prove they're in the country legally to "get with the program."
The federal legislation says that only driver's licenses that meet certain standards would be accepted as identification for federal purposes, such as getting on an airplane.
One of those standards is proof of legal presence, whether from citizens or non-citizens.
States wouldn't have to comply with those standards. But if they don't comply within three years, their driver's licenses wouldn't be good for getting on commercial aircraft or getting into federal buildings. As a result, the bill's backers expect all states to meet the standards.
States also would be free to create a second class of driver's certificates that would allow an illegal alien to drive but would be clearly marked as unacceptable for federal identification.
Wisconsin is one of nine states that don't require legal presence before issuing a driver's license.
Sensenbrenner said Wednesday that if that lengthens lines at motor vehicle offices "a few minutes more," that's a "small price to pay" to keep a terrorist from using a driver's license to get on an airplane.
Steven Walters reported from Madison and Craig Gilbert from Washington, D.C.
I really don't care if Angel Porras is scared or not. For crying out loud 16 years here illegally and they can't even find the time to apply for citizenship? You mean to tell me that in 16 years they have been to busy to change their status and apply for a workers visa even. My GOD admitting in front of a state Legislature their illegal status and nothing is done. What is going on here who has rights and who doesn't?
They oppose barring illegal residents from driving legally
By STEVEN WALTERS and CRAIG GILBERTswalters@journalsentinel.com
Posted: May 4, 2005
Madison - Hispanic immigrants - including one who said he was in the country illegally - pleaded with legislators Wednesday not to limit the issuance of new driver's licenses only to those who can prove they are American citizens or who are aliens in the country legally.
Immigrant IDs
Quotable
I'm really scared right now, if I get caught without a license. We’re not asking for much — just a little bit.
- Angel Porras,Of Whitewater, who said he was in the country illegally
If you’re here on a limited basis, I think that should be known to the public.
- State Rep. Mark Pettis (R-Hertel),His bill requires that licenses issued to resident aliens lapse at same time as their visas
Recent Coverage
5/2/05: Congress agrees on immigration rules for driver's licenses
Archive Coverage
Section: State Politics
Advertisement
"I'm really scared right now, if I get caught without a license," said Angel Porras, 27, of Whitewater, who said he was in the country illegally. "We're not asking for much - just a little bit."
Porras said he and other Hispanic immigrants want only a chance to work hard and get ahead in America.
"I want to have everything you guys have," he told members of the Assembly's Criminal Justice and Homeland Security Committee.
Jorge Islas-Martinez, one of whose four part-time jobs is teaching English as a second language to Whitewater high school students, said "every single immigrant" in America has felt that they are being personally blamed for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"We work hard," said Islas-Martinez, 29, who came to the United States from Mexico City about 16 years ago. "We're trying to do our best."
"Right now, my license is my life," said Miguel Serna of Fort Atkinson, who came to America in 1986 and who now works as a welder and clown. Without a driver's license, he said, "you're going to feel like every cop is going to stop you."
But Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin) said many other states have changed their laws to require proof of legal residency before anyone is issued a new driver's license. His bill (AB-148) would prohibit issuing licenses to people who cannot prove they are legal residents.
Congress is considering legislation that would prod states to adopt that as a national standard. The measure is expected to be approved today by the House and next week by the Senate.
Gundrum conceded that he knew of no Hispanic who has been linked or suspected of terrorism.
But he said that individuals who want to harm Americans could take advantage of Wisconsin's weak laws to get a driver's license, set up bank accounts and lay the groundwork to carry out those attacks.
A driver's license or state-issued ID is "really a stamp of approval," Gundrum said.
"Wisconsin is becoming a mecca for folks illegally in the country to get their licenses here."
First-time licenses
Gundrum also told opponents of his measure that it would stop only the issuance of first-time licenses to anyone who could not prove legal residency, so anyone who now has a valid Wisconsin driver's license could renew it.
A similar bill (AB-69) proposed by of Rep. Mark Pettis (R-Hertel) would go one step further.
Like Gundrum's bill, Pettis' measure would require that licenses issued to resident aliens lapse at the same time as their visas.
But unlike Gundrum's bill, Pettis' proposal would have the expiration date of the visa on the license.
"If you're here on a limited basis, I think that should be known to the public," Pettis said.
But Maria Castilla, a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater senior majoring in international business, said she and other Hispanics would feel targeted if their Wisconsin-issued driver's licenses expired on the day that their visas lapsed.
If licenses also listed the dates their visas expire, business executives interviewing Hispanic immigrants for jobs would ask, "Shall we hire this person?" because of their uncertain futures, Castilla said.
Now, regular Wisconsin driver's licenses are good for eight years; probationary licenses, three years; and ID cards, four years.
State Department of Transportation officials Erin Egan and Gary Guenther also argued against the measures, saying in a statement that they would "lead to increases in unlicensed and uninsured drivers on the road."
The change would force the DOT to hire more staff members and also cause longer lines at Division of Motor Vehicle offices, Egan and Guenther said.
The committee did not vote on the bills Wednesday and set no date for a vote.
Federal measure advancing
Meanwhile Wednesday, U.S. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., a Republican from Menomonee Falls, touted the new federal rules that would make it harder for illegal aliens to receive driver's licenses.
Sensenbrenner, House judiciary chairman, said driver's licenses would no longer be "the perfect breeder documents" for terrorists.
Sensenbrenner said the measure would prompt states such as Wisconsin that don't currently require applicants to prove they're in the country legally to "get with the program."
The federal legislation says that only driver's licenses that meet certain standards would be accepted as identification for federal purposes, such as getting on an airplane.
One of those standards is proof of legal presence, whether from citizens or non-citizens.
States wouldn't have to comply with those standards. But if they don't comply within three years, their driver's licenses wouldn't be good for getting on commercial aircraft or getting into federal buildings. As a result, the bill's backers expect all states to meet the standards.
States also would be free to create a second class of driver's certificates that would allow an illegal alien to drive but would be clearly marked as unacceptable for federal identification.
Wisconsin is one of nine states that don't require legal presence before issuing a driver's license.
Sensenbrenner said Wednesday that if that lengthens lines at motor vehicle offices "a few minutes more," that's a "small price to pay" to keep a terrorist from using a driver's license to get on an airplane.
Steven Walters reported from Madison and Craig Gilbert from Washington, D.C.
I really don't care if Angel Porras is scared or not. For crying out loud 16 years here illegally and they can't even find the time to apply for citizenship? You mean to tell me that in 16 years they have been to busy to change their status and apply for a workers visa even. My GOD admitting in front of a state Legislature their illegal status and nothing is done. What is going on here who has rights and who doesn't?
