The New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles (MVC) plans to begin issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants on May 1. People are pictured standing in line at the DMV after New York begins issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants in late 2019.
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) plans to begin issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants (aka: undocumented immigrants) on May 1. Under the new rules, applicants will be able to qualify by signing an affidavit if they do not have an IRS identification number or a letter from the Social Security Administration.
The bill to issue driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants was passed in the New Jersey Senate and House of Representatives in late 2019 and signed into law by the governor.
After the state released its initial implementation plan for the bill in June 2020, a flurry of complaints were filed by immigrant rights groups in New Jersey. The above-mentioned provision allowing undocumented persons to obtain a driver’s license by signing an affidavit, an amendment, is considered a concession by the state.
Sue Fulton, MVC president and chief administrative officer, said, “We don’t want to see a large portion of our community excluded from the opportunity to drive legally.”
The undocumented immigrant driver’s license is a standard driver’s license, or traditional license. Applicants must show proof of the six points of status required in the MVC document checklist. Residents who have an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) or a letter from the Social Security Administration showing legal status in the U.S. but no work authorization are also eligible to apply for a new driver’s license. For homeless people, there is an additional option, Department of Corrections ID cards can also be used as two-point documentation.
Fulton also said that undocumented immigrants can obtain a driver’s license after filing an affidavit if they have been found eligible for a license in another state, even if they do not have an alternate document.
The bill amendment has the support of some immigrant rights groups. Ted Fetter, a member of Unitarian Universalist Faith Action NJ, said the amended regulations, which provide applicants with an alternative to direct contact with federal agencies, are critical.
Katy Sastre, outreach coordinator for the NJ Alliance for Immigrant Justice, also called the introduction of the use of affidavits in lieu of documents an incredible first step that will greatly increase uptake by the immigrant community. People are understandably very concerned about interactions with the federal government.
The issuance of driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants was scheduled to begin on January 1 of this year, but this was delayed due to a halt in MVC efforts caused by the Communist virus pandemic. Gloria Blanco, a member of the Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center, said, “The delay dashed the hopes of [undocumented immigrants] to get driver’s licenses for a Time, and it put more stress on our community. Please remember for us, a driver’s license is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.”
Fulton explained that MVC was not ready to issue such licenses starting Jan. 1 because employees needed more training. She stated, “We agree with advocates that we should not require applicants to go to a consulate to verify their documents; instead, we should train MVC’s own employees to be prepared to identify valid documents from around the world. We will act as quickly as possible while ensuring the safety of our employees.”
Gov. Phil Murphy said he was “not shocked” that MVC had delayed issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants from the original Jan. 1 date to May 1. Murphy said the four-month delay weighed heavily on his mind, but he believes the MVC made the “right” decision to postpone because of the paralysis caused by the Chinese Communist virus Epidemic.
According to a 2018 survey by NJ Policy Perspective, there are about 500,000 undocumented immigrants of driving age in New Jersey.
There was a great deal of controversy when the bill was first discussed. Proponents of granting driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants argued that the measure would improve safety because many such immigrants still drive on the road despite not having a license or insurance, and that obtaining legal documentation would help people work and provide Food for loved ones.A study by AAA also showed that drivers without licenses were more likely to flee the scene of an accident than those with licenses.
Opponents of the initiative fear that it is an insult to law-abiding citizens by rewarding driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants who are clearly violating federal law, and could lead to voter registration fraud, since voter registration occurs when a driver’s license is obtained.
Sadly, the 2020 election has seen a significant amount of voter fraud in many states across the United States. And according to private investigative reports, New Jersey has seen similarly high levels of fraud, not only in the Nov. 3 general election, but also in the primary election back in July when fraud was committed and prosecuted.
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