Controversial new licenses for illegal immigrants to be issued in North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. A new North Carolina driver's license set to be issued to some illegal immigrants has a bright pink stripe and the bold words "NO LAWFUL STATUS," raising concerns about whether the design will stigmatize those who show it.

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles announced last week they would begin issuing the licenses in March following a lengthy legal review.

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The Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program grants valid federal work permits to qualifying applicants brought to the U.S. as children without legal authorization.

Meanwhile, conservative lawmakers filed a bill Thursday to bar the DMV from granting the licenses next month, saying the issue needs more scrutiny.

Sponsoring Rep. Mark Brody (R-Union) says President Barack Obama's executive order creating the new immigration program violates the Constitution.

[lgjhere]

An interesting new worldwide book/ebook that helps explain the role, struggles, and contributions of immigrants and minorities is "What Foreigners Need To Know About America From A To Z: How to understand crazy American culture, people, government, business, language and more." It paints a revealing picture of America for those who will benefit from a better understanding. Endorsed by ambassadors, educators, and editors, it also informs those who want to learn more about the last remaining superpower and how we compare to other nations on many issues.

As the book points out, immigrants and minorities are a major force in America, as the GOP recently discovered. Immigrants and the children they bear account for 60 percent of our nation's population growth and own 11 percent of US businesses and are 60 percent more likely to start a new business than native-born Americans. They represent 17 percent of all new business owners (in some states more than 30 percent). Foreign-born business owners generate nearly one-quarter of all business income in California and nearly one-fifth in New York, Florida, and New Jersey.

California and other states are now increasingly devising their own solutions to immigration reform, which has stalled in Washington. A poll shows Californians are overwhelmingly in favor of President Obama's new program granting work permits and a two-year reprieve from deportation to some young people who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Respondents also favor granting driver's licenses to the same group. It found that most Californians want increased border enforcement and think that local police and sheriffs should have a role in apprehending suspected illegal immigrants. However, Californians seem to be sending a message to the federal government that we should be able to find a solution to this problem, somewhere in between amnesty and deportation.

Legal immigrants number 850,000 each year; undocumented (illegal) immigrants are estimated to be half that number. They come to improve their lives and create a foundation of success for their children to build upon, as did the author's grandparents when they landed at Ellis Island in 1899 after losing 2 children to disease on a cramped cattle car-like sailing from Europe. Many bring skills and a willingness to work hard to make their dreams a reality, something our founders did four hundred years ago. In describing America, chapter after chapter identifies "foreigners" who became successful in the US and contributed to our society. However, most struggle in their efforts and need guidance, be they in AZ or Anytown, USA. Perhaps intelligent immigration reform, concerned Americans and books like this can extend a helping hand, the anchor and lighthouse of American culture for four hundred years. www.AmericaAtoZ.com

[lola6640]

WHY IT IS NOT ABSURD TO BE TALKING ABOUT MASSIVE AMNESTY AND INCREASE IN GREEN CARDS FOR MOSTLY LOWER-SKILLED FOREIGN WORKERS DURING A TIME OF BUDGET DEFICIT CRISIS AND HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT???
COMBINED WITH CURRENT LAWS, THE LEGALIZATION WOULD BE A PATHWAY TO MASSIVE NEW WELFARE EXPENDITURES, JOB COMPETITION, CHAIN MIGRATION AND MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
It would cost trillions of dollars in EXTRA GOVERNMENT SPENDING ON SOCIAL SERVICES.
It would immediately put million of ILLEGAL ALIENS IN FRONT OF THE EMPLOYMENT LINE to hold or take U.S. jobs while 20 million Americans who want a full-time job can't find one.
It would immediately legalize 11 million illegal aliens WITHOUT REQUIRING TRIGGERS THAT FULLY IMPLEMENT ENFORCEMENT FIRST. The previous seven amnesties between 1986 and 2000 had no enforcement triggers and served only to entice 11 million new illegal immigrants who now demand their own amnesty.
It would allow amnestied aliens to begin ENDLESS CHAINS OF RELATIVES to come and add further competition for jobs and government resources.

[NO_to_illegals_amensty]

This is a major Mexican problem that has been going on for over 20 years now. We can do without this guy : http://www.examiner.com/article/illegal-alien-arrested-for-sexually-assaulting-a-dog-florida. AND all the illegals who somehow have money to ACTUALLY buy a vehicle. *** is really going on. Let's give one a license so he can drive back and forth to Mexico transporting mexicans back where they came from. (Including the millions of ILLEGAL babies being born here in the states)