Red Light Green Light 1 2 3?

The State of New York recently adopted a bill which would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. Long considered the gateway to practicing rights and receiving services, a driver’s license opens up many doors for the undocumented who lay hearth in NYC. The new legislation, known as the ‘Green Light Bill’, was passed on June 17th.

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the legislation quickly after it passed the state Senate. The Governor initially hesitated because of the prospect of the federal government using the data to track down illegal immigrants. However, after State Attorney General Tish James reassured him that the legislation contains ample protections for those who apply for driver’s licenses, he put his pen to the paper.

Supporters of the bill argue that it would boost the economy, lower the number of uninsured people and improve safety on the road.

Democratic state Senator Alessandra Biaggi argues “It’s not about giving someone a driver’s license who’s going to try to get citizenship. It’s about providing someone with the opportunity to be able to drive and have transportation to serve us and our communities collectively”.

Critics, however, point to a loophole in the new law granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. They contend that this loophole may be used to fraudulently register hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants as bona fide voters in New York. This concern has been raised by many officials and even the state Board of Elections.

New York State Senator Republican Minority Leader John Flanagan explained that “…many states, including New York, use their DMVs to enroll voters. Since New York does not have voter-identification laws like the majority of other states do, this bill increases the potential for voter fraud”.

Board of Elections spokesman John Conklin has confirmed that Voters need only provide a driver’s license number to register to vote. Though Registrants are required to check a box swearing they are eligible to vote in the US, there is no City or State body checking the accuracy of that assertion. The state DMV said it provides voter registration applications to customers and sends them to the Board of Elections but has no role in vetting applications.

The first licenses will be available in December since the law takes 180 days to go into effect.

By Adam Suionov