紐約州開始接受非法移民申請駕照！（有貓膩） 改貼 2007-09-21 18:22:25 [點擊:0]
紐約時報這篇報道說：（目前，八個州不限制非法移民申請駕照。）
Currently, eight other states — Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington — do not require drivers to prove legal status in order to obtain a license, according to the Spitzer administration.
我個人體會是，實際情況不這麼簡單。比如，以我居住的馬里蘭為例，它的文件表格上的確沒有提到非法移民不能辦駕照，但是，我去申請的時候，辦事的一個老黑一眼看我是外國人，立即要求我到一個專門辦公室，那裡要求我出示綠卡或護照。顯然，他們內部掌握，非法移民還是不給辦。我一氣之下，走了。
結果，到聖瑪麗縣的交通局，就順利地辦了。根本沒問是否非法移民。

September 21, 2007, 5:38 pm
Illegal Immigrants Will Be Allowed to Obtain Driver’s Licenses

By Sewell Chan

Fulfilling a campaign promise, Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced today that residents will be able to apply for state driver’s licenses without regard to immigration status. Applicants for driver’s licenses will no longer be required to provide a Social Security number or show that they are eligible for one. Instead, they will be allowed to provide foreign passports, previous state driver’s licenses and “other valid and verifiable documents” to prove their identity.

Officials in New York estimate that there are tens of thousands of undocumented, unlicensed and uninsured drivers in New York. Mr. Spitzer announced the change along with new security measures that he said would make the licensing system more tamper-proof. Currently, eight other states — Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington — do not require drivers to prove legal status in order to obtain a license, according to the Spitzer administration.

Mr. Spitzer said that expanding access to driver’s licenses would improve traffic safety and lower auto insurance rates. But the move has spurred debate among opponents of illegal immigration, who believe that relaxing licensing standards effectively encourages undocumented immigrants to enter the country.

State law requires license applicants to prove their identity, date of birth, and fitness to drive, and to provide a Social Security number. The last requirement was added in 1995 as part of an effort to punish parents who were not paying child support. In 2002, a state regulation was adopted to allow applicants who are ineligible for a Social Security number to also apply for driver’s licenses.

But at that point, Gov. George E. Pataki, Mr. Spitzer’s predecessor, issued a policy that stipulated that the only way to define “ineligibility” would be through obtaining a ????al letter of ineligibility from the Social Security Administration, a letter that is only obtainable by individuals who have legal immigration status. That step made it effectively impossible for illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.

Mr. Spitzer said that the Department of Motor Vehicles would introduce new anti-fraud measures, including document verification technology, photograph comparison tools and trained staff members with “expertise in foreign-sourced identity documents.” The department will also propose that license applicants be required to prove that they reside in New York State; currently, 27 states have such residency requirements.

The change will take place in two phases. In the first phase, the Department of Motor Vehicle letters will immediately send about 152,000 New Yorkers, who at one point had (or currently have) a driver’s license, but have been unable to renew it. Those people can apply to renew their license at the end of the year and will be required to prove their identity, date of birth and fitness to drive.

The second phase, to begin six to eight months from now, will open the driver’s license application process to all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status.