Latino Groups Eager for New Driver's Licenses Law
By: Jacob Long, WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: January 9, 2013
BLOOMINGTON - Immigration activists are cheering a decision in Springfield.
The Illinois House on Tuesday passed a Senate bill to give illegal immigrants in the state temporary visitor driver's licenses.
It now goes to Governor Pat Quinn, who is expected to sign it.
The intention, as some supporters argue, is to make the roads safer for everyone. It is estimated accidents involving illegal immigrants cost insured drivers in Illinois billions of dollars a year.
The bill requires undocumented people to pass driver's training and obtain insurance.
One supporter with Bloomington-based Latinos United for Change/Illinois People's Action said on Wednesday the legislation takes the fear out of driving for many families.
"They try to do the right thing, but they have to drive. They have to go go the grocery store or to take their kids to school. Public transportation doesn't always work," said Christina Deutch.
Deutch added illegal immigrants also no longer have to worry as much about being deported and separated from their families.
"Since ICE got $5.2 billion to enforce and deport undocumented, they were coming full force. They were stopping people that were driving and didn't have a driver's license," she said.
The bill will take effect 10 months after Quinn signs it. The intention is not to create a path to citizenship.
It's estimated Illinois has 250,000 illegal immigrants driving already.
The Illinois House on Tuesday passed a Senate bill to give illegal immigrants in the state temporary visitor driver's licenses.
It now goes to Governor Pat Quinn, who is expected to sign it.
The intention, as some supporters argue, is to make the roads safer for everyone. It is estimated accidents involving illegal immigrants cost insured drivers in Illinois billions of dollars a year.
The bill requires undocumented people to pass driver's training and obtain insurance.
One supporter with Bloomington-based Latinos United for Change/Illinois People's Action said on Wednesday the legislation takes the fear out of driving for many families.
"They try to do the right thing, but they have to drive. They have to go go the grocery store or to take their kids to school. Public transportation doesn't always work," said Christina Deutch.
Deutch added illegal immigrants also no longer have to worry as much about being deported and separated from their families.
"Since ICE got $5.2 billion to enforce and deport undocumented, they were coming full force. They were stopping people that were driving and didn't have a driver's license," she said.
The bill will take effect 10 months after Quinn signs it. The intention is not to create a path to citizenship.
It's estimated Illinois has 250,000 illegal immigrants driving already.
