N.Y. Drops Illegal Immigrant License Plan

(CBS/AP)  New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer said Wednesday he was abandoning a plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, but said that the federal government had "lost control" of its borders and left states to deal with the consequences.

"I have concluded that New York state cannot successfully address this problem on its own," Spitzer said at a news conference after meeting with members of the state's congressional delegation.

Spitzer said overwhelming public opposition led to his decision.

The governor introduced the plan with the goal of increased security, safer roads and an opportunity to bring immigrants "out of the shadows." Opponents charged Spitzer would make it easier for would-be terrorists to get identification, and make the country less safe. Many New Yorkers agreed with them.

About 70 percent of New Yorkers oppose the license plan, according to a Siena College poll of 625 registered voters released Tuesday. The poll, conducted Nov. 5-8, had a sampling error margin of 3.9 percentage points.

"You don't need a stethoscope to hear the heartbeat of the public on this one," the governor told reporters. "There are some moments where emotions are simply too hot."

Last month, Spitzer sought to salvage the license effort by striking a deal with the Department of Homeland Security to create three distinct types of state driver's licenses: one "enhanced" that will be as secure as a passport; a second-tier license good for boarding airplanes; and a third marked not valid for federal purposes that would be available to illegal immigrants and others.

The topic has become an uncomfortable one for Democrats. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Democratic front-runner in the presidential race, has come under scrutiny for her noncommittal remarks on the subject.

Clinton has said she supports governors like Spitzer who try to address the national problem of immigration, but has refused to say whether she supports or opposes Spitzer's actual plan.

[guydanieli]

Last thing!

THere is no visa to come legally in the US for poor people ! It''s the reason why they are here ilegally !

They have no choice.

If you know a visa, I wish to know whish one. Because I do not know any !

[guydanieli]

Another thing !

The US economy is bad ! We are at war !

If 20 millions of people leave this country, it will be very bad fot housing. Construction, sell and rental.

Really bad for grocery stores and for any other kind of business.

We will also less men to re-build the Army etc..

[guydanieli]

I was not talking about criminals, but people who entered this country with a visa and overstayed. They have a real SS# and a good driver''s licence and insurance.

I do not think that those people are criminal. They enter legally, they made money and paid taxe. Bough a house and spent their money in the US.

What is bad about that.It''s good for the economy.

Of course, we must deport all criminals. There is no question about that!

But about the other "Nice people" if they never did anything wrong...Why do we want to deport them.

But anyway, it''s impossible to deport 20 millions of people. Every day, we deport a few hundred ..Maybe ! And Hundred of people are jumping the wall or overstay.

This game will never see any end!

We cannot stop them to jump the wall or to come in the US by any other way.

If they do not have work in the US, they will sel drugs or become thiefs. Because people need to eat! And they need money.

If we make an Amnesty and if they do not get the minimum wage, they will not have any help from the country.

But international laws force us to take care of them if they are ill. It''s normal. They do that all over the world.

[klingon69]

Illegals will never deport themself and we cannot deport all of them.

Illegals will deport themselves if the access to the American Teat is cut off. Crackdown on jobs hiring illegals, cut off all services, press charges against cities and organizations that are aiding and abetting the illegals. Let the illegals know that the majority of the populace does not want them to be here, take away the reasons they come here, and they will stop coming and start leaving.

I do not want to drive my car when I know that millions of people do not have any insurance. Or I do not need any insurance either.

Neither do I, but one part of being a good CITIZEN is to obey the laws. Illegals by virtue of being here prove they will not obey the laws, so why would they register as an illegal for then license, or pay insurance.

The only way to fix the problem is to make an amnesty and give a visa to people who want to come here and about the millions already here, Give the Amnesty to people with a clear backgroung. Deport the other ones!!!

As I stated earlier, by being here, they are criminals, they have broken a law, therefore, they do NOT have a clear background. Many of them have crossed multiple times, and thusly the crime is no longer a misdemeanor, but now a felony.
Posted by Guydanieli at 05:50 AM : Nov 15, 2007

Problem is that people have been spoon-fed the lie that they can''t be deported, without anyone ever trying.

[rowdytexan2]

They are illegal! Why are they not being rounded up and sent home to apply for the proper papers to enter this country and work here, and pay taxes like all others who work here?

Because big business can exploit them with lower wages. Because they can hire a nanny or gardener for almost nothing, and hide the wages in household expenses which they can write off in their business since they can claim to operate their business out of their household, which goes against showing any profit.

For those that use labor, they can sign them up with false papers, pay them scanty wages, then claim they didn''t know they were illegal.

Issuing them driver''s license would require that they have insurance and promote gains for insurers.

See who this benefits?

I think the idea of bringing them out of the shadows is a good thing, but needs more thought. Driver''s license information was invaluable in identifying the 9/11 terrorists, but that was after the fact. But what about before the fact?

[hwy71so]

It was irresponsible of them to even consider giving illegals a drivers license.

[guydanieli]

Driver''s licences for illegals do make any sense at all.Nobody would never go to the DMD and says: I am illegal I want a drivers licence. After that they will get deported because they are illegal?!?!

You can drive, but you cannot reside in the US ! I do not get it!

First , we have to make them legals and they can get the driver''s licence.

It''s very important to make them legals, because, that way, they will pay taxes, heathcare, car''s insurance etc..

We will never stop people to come in this country. It will never happens, It''s impossible.

The wall is a joke! And a good one!Especially for terrorists.

Illegals will never deport themself and we cannot deport all of them. I do not see who will deport them and how much it will cost to do that. This is impossible.

I do not want to drive my car when I know that millions of people do not have any insurance. Or I do not need any insurance either.

The only way to fix the problem is to make an amnesty and give a visa to people who want to come here and about the millions already here, Give the Amnesty to people with a clear backgroung. Deport the other ones!!!

If Mexicans had the possibility to get a visa, we will not have so many illegals.

The problem is very simple to resolve. If we do nothing, this sitiation will stay forever!

With a dead Dollar and a bad economy, we cannot attract brains anymore. So, we need men to work to re-lauch the economy.

If we do not do that , USA is history!

[ralphj53]

November 14, 2007
Hello;
I just can''t believe Elliot Spitzer ACTUAALY advocated driver''s license for ILLEGAL immigrants!

I ALWAYS thought... ATTORNEYS...knew the law and thus could INTERPRET the LAW!

You know why he BACKTRACKED? There''s that subject called REELECTION!

Giving DRIVER LICENCE TO illegal immigrants is NOT politically correct, so behave yourself.... ELLIOT!

And, thus, keep doing a good job.

slim6744

[sclaires]

Illegal aliens should NOT be allowed to obtain a driver''s license at all. They do not know the rules of the road in the US for one, have not had any driver''s training which is required in most states of the US, and since they are in this country illegally, are not are not eligible for the privilages that citizens and LEGAL immigrants are.

It is about time that this country start cracking down on MORE on the illegal aliens and get them out of the country and back to their home country. If anyone wants to come to this country, then it should be through the legal process instead of sneaking into across the border.

[tylenol6]

Just read top Clinton aides told Spitzer to drop licenses for illegal immigrants because it hurt her
campaign.....