Feds Cut Deal On N.Y. Driver's Licenses

State To Adopt Three-Tier System, With One Version Available To Illegal Immigrants

(AP)  The Bush administration and New York cut a deal Saturday to create a new generation of super-secure driver's licenses for U.S. citizens, but also allow illegal immigrants to get a version.

New York is the fourth state to reach an agreement on federally approved secure licenses, after Arizona, Vermont and Washington. The issue is pressing for border states, where new and tighter rules are soon to go into effect for crossings.

The Arizona deal announced in August does not contemplate issuing licenses to illegal immigrants, said Jeanine L'Ecuyer, a spokeswoman for Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.

The proposed Arizona version would not be available to anyone illegally in the country, since one of the intended uses of the 3-in-1 identity card would be to prove U.S. citizenship, L'Ecuyer said. It could be used as a license, as proof of citizenship and as a passport-like document valid for travel in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. It would be voluntary and available for a small extra fee.

"It is something that clearly would not be available for people who are in the county illegally," L'Ecuyer said.

The New York deal comes about one month after Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced a plan whereby illegal immigrants with a valid foreign passport could obtain a license.

Saturday's agreement with the Homeland Security Department will create a three-tier license system in New York. It is the largest state to sign on so far to the government's post-Sept. 11 effort to make identification cards more secure.

Spitzer, who has faced much criticism on the issue, said the deal means New York "will usher in the most secure licensing system in the nation."

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he was not happy that New York intended to issue IDs to illegal immigrants. But he said there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"I don't endorse giving licenses to people who are not here legally, but federal law does allow states to make that choice," Chertoff said.

The governor made clear he is going forward with his plan allowing licenses for illegal immigrants. But advocates on both sides of the debate said Spitzer had caved to pressure by adopting the administration's stance on tighter security standards for most driver's licenses.

GOP Rep. Thomas Reynolds, who represents the Buffalo suburbs, said he was glad Washington had heeded his concerns about border identification. But he said he feared that Spitzer "is taking this state down a risky path" by giving any kind of license to illegal immigrants.

Under the compromise, New York will produce an "enhanced driver's license" that will be as secure as a passport. It is intended for people who soon will need to meet such ID requirements, even for a short drive to Canada.

A second version of the license will meet new federal standards of the Real ID Act. That law is designed to make it much harder for illegal immigrants or would-be terrorists to obtain licenses.

A third type of license will be available to undocumented immigrants. Spitzer has said this ID will make the state more secure by bringing those people "out of the shadows" and into American society, and will lower auto insurance rates.

Those licenses will be clearly marked to show they are not valid federal ID. Officials, however, would not say whether that meant local law enforcement could use such a license as probable cause to detain someone they suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.

"Besides being a massive defeat for the governor, I can't imagine many - if any - illegal immigrants coming forward to get the driver's licenses, because they'd basically be labeled as illegal," said New York Rep. Peter King, the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee.

New York has between 500,000 and 1 million undocumented immigrants, many of whom are driving without a license and car insurance or with fake driver's licenses, Spitzer said in September when he announced his executive order.

[usaprophet]

Most Americans just don''t seem to care that our country, along with the Constitution upon which it was founded, is being flushed-down the NWO toilet by our nations ruling elite. Most of Congress and the President warn and insite fear in the sheeple about the prospect of terrorism, while they at the same time fund and conduct illegal wars overseas that do nothing but encite the terrorism which their Draconian Laws like the Patriot Act and The Real ID Act pretend to protect us from. Think about it. What would you do, if someone invaded the U.S. for no reason, and took over. You''d be mad as hell, and you''d be making trips to their country in order to give a little payback. Wake up America! It''s not about protecting you from terrorism, or saving our planet from Global Warming, or any of that fear-mongering garbage the tube feeds you 24/7. It''s about feeding the military industrial complex and facilitating the ruling elite''s ability to ratchet-down control over the American people, placing us into a total control grid where they can surveille, track and control everywhere we go and everything we do. It''s the groundwork for totalitarianism. I weep for my country, and for those of you who are so distracted, dumbed-down, or outright brainwashed by mainstream media, which endlessly regurgitates scientifically-crafted streams of information aimed at keeping their eyes closed to the realities of the world around them, that they fail to recognize this. Go Ron Paul!.

[usaprophet]

I don''t know about you, but I''m sick of no-win pseudo-wars, like The War on Drugs and The War on Terrorism. I''m sick of undeclared wars like The War in Iraq and unnecessary and protracted police actions like the one in Korea. I''m sick of income taxes, which are unconstitutional because they are are a direct tax and are not equally apportioned as the Constitution requires. I''m sick of back door national ID cards like The Real ID Act. I''m sick of warrantless domestic spying by the Department of Homeland Insecurity and the loss of my civil liberties as a result of Draconian, fear-based Laws with oxymoronic names like The Patrot Act. I''m sick of secret offshore prisons like the one in Guantanamo, where our government tortures prisoners, who have no right to redress of grievance, or to writ of habeus corpus. I''m also sick of the Federal Reserve (a secret group of private banks) manipulation of our worthless, fiat currency. Do yourself a favor. Support the 2008 candidacy of Dr. Ron Paul for President of The United States. I believe he''s our only hope to restore peace, prosperity and freedom in this country. Presidential candidates with the integrity and bearing the positive message of Dr. Paul only come around only once in a lifetime, if we''re lucky. The cause of freedom is too important to let anything stand in the way of our participation in this 21st Century political revolution.

[rudy654-2009]

Lets clean up this problem put hevy fines on those that hire illegals and confiscate thier property the problem will be solved overnight we''''ll get our country back. We have a million in prison why not give them amnesty cause this is what it is it''''s special rights for illegalls no wonder there pouring in.
Posted by crzmeat at 04:37 AM

I got an idea. Just stop buying produce. Any and all produce fromt the U.S. just stop buying it. Buy only imported produce. Then the American farms will not be able to hire illegals and will "get your country back" (the stupidest statement I have ever heard a racist repeat - get our country back - like anyone else ever had it. Well, maybe the Chinese already do!) I hope you understand that this means no poultry or beef or anything from America. Start with Con-Agra and Banquet Corporations. Just go down the line. And "Get your country back."

[usaprophet]

I agree with Dr. Paul about the issue of illegal immigration. The talk must stop. We must secure our borders now. A nation without secure borders is no nation at all. It makes no sense to fight terrorists abroad when our own front door is left unlocked. Ron Paul has a plan: (1.) Physically secure our borders and coastlines. We must do whatever it takes to control entry into our country before we undertake complicated immigration reform proposals. (2.) Enforce visa rules. Immigration officials must track visa holders and deport anyone who overstays their visa or otherwise violates U.S. law. This is especially important when we recall that a number of 9/11 terrorists had expired visas. (3.) No amnesty. Estimates suggest that 10 to 20 million people are in our country illegally. That''s a lot of people to reward for breaking our laws. (4.) No welfare for illegal aliens. Americans have welcomed immigrants who seek opportunity, work hard, and play by the rules, but taxpayers should not pay for illegal immigrants who use hospitals, clinics, schools, roads, and social services. (5.) End birthright citizenship. As long as illegal immigrants know their children born here will be citizens, the incentive to enter the U.S. illegally will remain strong. (6.) Pass true immigration reform. The current system, and those proposed by ALL other candidates, is incoherent and unfair, and would allow up to 60 million more immigrants into our country.

[usaprophet]

I agree with Dr. Paul on the Social Security issue. Our nation''s promise to its seniors, once considered a sacred trust, has become little more than a tool for politicians to scare retirees while robbing them of their promised benefits to pay for militarization. Today, the Social Security system is both broke and broken. Those in the system are seeing their benefits dwindle due to higher taxes, increasing inflation, and irresponsible military spending. The proposed solutions, ranging from lower benefits to higher taxes to increasing the age of eligibility, are NOT solutions; they are betrayals. Imposing any tax on Social Security benefits is unfair and illogical. In Congress, Dr. Paul introduced the Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act (H.R. 191), which repeals ALL taxes on Social Security benefits, to eliminate political theft of our seniors'' income and raise their standard of living. Solvency is the key to keeping our promise to our seniors, and he introduced the Social Security Preservation Act (H.R. 219) to ensure that money paid into the system is ONLY used for Social Security. Also, it is fundamentally unfair to give benefits to anyone who has not paid into the system. The Social Security for Americans Only Act (H.R. 190), which Ron Paul supported, ends the drain on Social Security caused by illegal aliens seeking the fruits of your labor. We must also address the widespread desire of younger workers to save for retirement on their own.

[Krazcarl]

Lets clean up this problem put hevy fines on those that hire illegals and confiscate thier property the problem will be solved overnight we''ll get our country back. We have a million in prison why not give them amnesty cause this is what it is it''s special rights for illegalls no wonder there pouring in.

[usaprophet]

I agree with Dr. Paul about the issue of illegal immigration. The talk must stop. We must secure our borders now. A nation without secure borders is no nation at all. It makes no sense to fight terrorists abroad when our own front door is left unlocked. Ron Paul has a plan: (1.) Physically secure our borders and coastlines. We must do whatever it takes to control entry into our country before we undertake complicated immigration reform proposals. (2.) Enforce visa rules. Immigration officials must track visa holders and deport anyone who overstays their visa or otherwise violates U.S. law. This is especially important when we recall that a number of 9/11 terrorists had expired visas. (3.) No amnesty. Estimates suggest that 10 to 20 million people are in our country illegally. That''s a lot of people to reward for breaking our laws. (4.) No welfare for illegal aliens. Americans have welcomed immigrants who seek opportunity, work hard, and play by the rules, but taxpayers should not pay for illegal immigrants who use hospitals, clinics, schools, roads, and social services. (5.) End birthright citizenship. As long as illegal immigrants know their children born here will be citizens, the incentive to enter the U.S. illegally will remain strong. (6.) Pass true immigration reform. The current system, and those proposed by ALL other candidates, is incoherent and unfair, and would allow up to 60 million more immigrants into our country.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by likeitis5050 at 06:51 PM

Unfortunately, most of what I see written by bloggers here is made up. I have worked with these people first hand and I can tell you that the illegals'' so-called feeding off the system is the least of this country''s problems. They really don''t get beans from the government. They get by on a lot less. I''ve seen them take a junky house and make it ten times better than it was, with almost nothing. In some case, if it weren''t for these undocumented workers, some towns would virtually be non-existant. Those towns now supply the countryside with the workers that no longer are able to cross the borders as freely as they once did. Eventually, the 12 to 20 million illegals will be reduced to a very small number, not by deportations, but other means. I am already seeing it. There are less field workers every year. Eventually, farming will be a foreign import. Finally, the one area that I see the illegal workers affecting greatly is that of health care. Face it, it is darrn expensive for even us, so you can imagine what happens when an illegal gets sick and can''t afford it. They have to go to the emergency, and often they get sent home to die. That''s it. Then the bills come to the family that remains, but of course, they can''t pay it. Some will try and make payments, but then the hospital doesn''t want payments, they want it all in full, and then they get sent to collections, and after that, they stop even trying.

[rudy654-2009]

Last time I checked, at least for now, this is still the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. We live in the greatest, most powerful country in the world. If enough legal citizens wanted them deported it would be done. The USA doesn''''t understand the word CAN''''T, won''''t is more like it.
Posted by nottellin1 at 03:57 PM

Won''t or can''t or whatever, they''re here and they aren''t going anywhere. So is it acceptable to have them on the roads without a license or insurance? Yes or no? If yes, then you get what you get. That''s all it really comes down to.

[rudy654-2009]

Hmmm...and you use this arguement in "defense" of illegals?? Your above statement doesn''''t sound like a description of someone who is law abiding. 1st: Living and working here "illegal". 2nd: Driving here illegally and without insurance which causes them to hit and run if in an accident. I see...so in your opinion it''''s the USA''''s fault that the illegals are breaking laws just because the laws exist. Rudy...I don''''t think you get the meaning of the word illegal.
Posted by GrammaWhamma at 10:06 PM

Look gwamma, you don''t want them here period, because they speak Spanish. You said so yourself. I don''t want them here either, because of people like you, but I know they won''t be leaving because who wants to go back to a life of poverty? Do you? So no, sweety pie, I do know what illegal means. Now, this is the way it is, they aren''t going anywhere, and they will be driving because our society has made driving a necessity for most anything. Do you want them driving around without so much as proof that they know what they are doing? Without insurance? Yes or no? If yes, then you get the consequences you are going to get. Have fun, sweety!

[l8c6]

Let me bring you up to date here...Forget what you think you know about our good old USA,the goal here is to turn this one mighty country in another Third World power,just like China,India,or Russia.
You see our brave CEO''''s have been to those countries and they liked what they''''ve seen.
Maybe,in their infinite wisdom,have forgot that we can still vote here.

Posted by mediapreachr

Ever hear of election fraud and Diebold?

[grammawhamma]

Here is the problem, since you already have them here, if you don''''t grant them licenses, then they will drive around anyway without licenses and without insurance. If they get into accidents, which has already happened, then they will have no reason to stick around and face the consequences, because they have no license or insurance in the first place.
Posted by rudy654 at 01:40 PM : Oct 28, 2007

Hmmm...and you use this arguement in "defense" of illegals?? Your above statement doesn''t sound like a description of someone who is law abiding. 1st: Living and working here "illegal". 2nd: Driving here illegally and without insurance which causes them to hit and run if in an accident. I see...so in your opinion it''s the USA''s fault that the illegals are breaking laws just because the laws exist. Rudy...I don''t think you get the meaning of the word illegal.

[usaprophet]

Like Ron Paul, I believe the biggest threat to your privacy is the government. We must drastically limit the ability of government to collect and store data regarding citizens'' personal matters. We must stop the move toward a national ID card system (e.g., The Real ID Act). Under this new law, states are currently issuing new driver''s licenses embedded with standard identifier data (RFID chips). Although, some states like Montana are refusing to comply. A national ID with new tracking technologies means we''re heading into an Orwellian world of no privacy. Ron Paul was one of the few members of Congess who voted against the Real ID Act. Also, under current medical privacy protection rules, which Ron Paul also opposed, insurance companies and other entities have access to your personal medical information. Finally, there''s the so-called Patriot Act, which Congressman, Ron Paul also voted against. As originally proposed, it expanded the federal government''s ability to use wiretaps without judicial oversight; allowed nationwide search warrants non-specific to any given location, nor subject to any local judicial oversight; made it far easier for the government to monitor private Internet usage; authorized sneak and peek warrants enabling federal authorities to search a person''s home, office, or personal property without that person''s knowledge; and required libraries to turn over records of books read by their patrons. Ron Paul sponsored a bill to overturn the Patriot Act.

[kaelinda]

What part of "illegal" doesn''t Governor Spitzer understand? What part of "illegal" does New York''s state legislature not understand? Why is it so hard for some people to figure out that "illegal" means "outside the law," or "outlaw." Why is it so hard for some people to figure out that while Americans welcome legal immigrants from all countries around the world, we don''t welcome even one illegal immigrant, no matter where he or she is from.

[likeitis5050]

The undocumented aren''''t eligible for welfare, you are, the undocumented aren''''t eligible for Social Security, although they pay into it, they aren''''t getting free hand outs, although, no doubt, you are rudy654


rudy...rudy...rudy...do you think we are making this stuff up? Do you think everyone is misrepresenting what they experience first hand? Of course they aren''t eligible...that''s why they steal social security #s and identities from Americians. Trust me, rudy...they are bellying up to the table of government assistance. Yes, they are paying...on someone else''s number. When they file, they forget 2 minutes after walking away, which SS# they used. They use one number to work one job and another number to work another job.

Again, I say, if the vast majority of illegals were just working and minding their own business, not bothering anyone, not stealing from anyone, not lieing to anyone, or using what''s not their''s to use...we wouldn''t be having this discussion. They walk away from some things Americans would be tied up in court for years for doing. They enter knowing where to go, who to talk to, how much to spend on numbers and licenses...it''s all laid out for them...and then comes the federal assistance when kids come, when utilities need to be paid, when medical care is needed...and try to follow up on any of them just to see how they are doing and you hit dead ends...wrong addresses...wrong phone numbers...lies from start to finish.

[mediapreachr]

Let me bring you up to date here...Forget what you think you know about our good old USA,the goal here is to turn this one mighty country in another Third World power,just like China,India,or Russia.
You see our brave CEO''s have been to those countries and they liked what they''ve seen.
Maybe,in their infinite wisdom,have forgot that we can still vote here.

[usaprophet]

I want to report a major fire, my friends. Our Constitution is on fire. And it''s currently being burned in Congress. See H.R. 1955, a.k.a., Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. I couldn''t believe it. Apparently, activists with Web sites are really begining to anger the elite insofar as they are publically holding them accountable for their evil. Here''s a part of the bill, which passed the house on Oct 23, in spite of Congressman, Ron Paul''s opposition thereto. The right to free speech on the Internet is gone, my friends. Look it up for yourself, and weep for your country that our rights have eroded this far. Here''s a short excerpt from the bill''s DEFINITIONS statement: "The development and implementation of methods and processes that can be utilized to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in the United States is critical to combating domestic terrorism." Here''s another excerpt from the bill''s FINDINGS statement: "The Internet has aided in facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process in the United States by providing access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda to United States citizens." And guess who get''s to decide what is "terrorist-related propaganda?" You got it! The Department of Homeland Insecurity, an agency that''s answerable ONLY to The President. If Ron Paul isn''t elected, our country is doomed!

[cmp271]

What''s next? social Security cards.

Spitzer is an idiot. What he is trying to do is make us forget Troopergate. He used the State Troopers to spy on a Republican Senator. He had his people put together a falsified report. Now when they are being called on the carpet for it they are refusing to comply. He has kept these people on the payroll while they were temporarily suspened. He is just as guilty as his people, he also claimed he knew nothing about it. Does Spitzer think the people of New York State are Stupid??? He wants to be Hillaries Vice President. If he is and they get in, it will add a new twist to;
"No I did not have s-e-x with that (wo)man"

[nottellin1]

You aren''''t going to deport 20 million undocumented, and keeping them from getting licenses will just insure that we have uninsured and unsafe drivers on the road. Have fun!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by rudy654 at 02:11 PM : Oct 28, 2007

Last time I checked, at least for now, this is still the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. We live in the greatest, most powerful country in the world. If enough legal citizens wanted them deported it would be done. The USA doesn''t understand the word CAN''T, won''t is more like it.

[nottellin1]

To rudy654 and anyone else who believes the mexican illegals are simply honest hard working people here to make a better life, let me tell you about my experience just last weekend.

I was inland from Rosarito in Baja, building a structure for a needy Mexican family with a chapter of Rotary Intl. We brought many gifts for this family, actually 2 families, such as blankets, rugs, clothes, solar lighting, food, etc. It was really sad to see kids come from all over the neighborhood to see if there was anything to steal. One kid made himself at home around our ice chests so that he could pass cokes to his cousins that passed by. If we left the tools and supplies unwatched for a minute, the kids would gather and eyeball anything they could snatch. It scares me that getting one over on the Americans is something to be proud of, even when we were there to help them. Do you really believe that they lose this attitude when the sneak over the border, once again, cheating the Ameicans.