Serious concerns’ over new DPS rule -Mexican American Legal defense protests

San Antonio Express ^ | 10/09/2008 | Hernán Rozemberg -

[HollyButler]

Immigrant advocates and some politicians in South Texas were flummoxed with the handling and timing of a state agency’s move to bar unauthorized immigrants from obtaining driver’s licenses — a move some predict will boost the number of unlicensed and uninsured drivers on Texas roads.

Labeling the policy change as sudden, rash and possibly dubious, they began mobilizing Thursday to try to find out how it all came about. The new rule requires noncitizens to prove they are in the country legally before they are issued a new license, renew an existing one or apply for a state identification card.

“They may not even have the legal authority,” said Luis Figueroa with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund in San Antonio. “We’re checking it out, but we have serious concerns.”

DPS officials insist the rule changes are not an anti-immigrant measure, but intended to safeguard the licensing process and reduce identity fraud and theft.

[HollyButler]

I surely wonder what has the Mexican American Legal Defense been smoking or drinking to make such a statement, “They may not even have the legal authority,” and If the issue of unauthorized immigrants obtaining licenses posed such a threat to security, she said she hasn’t been informed of it by law enforcement officials,>what world are these folks living ?

[Frantzie]

FIVE million mortgages to illegal aliens blew up! They also engaged in a lot of fraudulent loan scams. Open borders are killing us.

[i_dont_chat]

I can assure you that illegals DO NOT CARRY AUTO INSURANCE.

[AuntB]

Maldef gets millions every year from outfits like FANNIE MAE.

Maybe they’re worried some of the funding will be cut. Well, we can hope.

[knittnmom]

Federal Real ID law/act/whatever will make this a moot point.

[Harry Wurzbach]

How about removing illegals from our road and our country?

And this is in Texas.

[ridesthemiles]

I moved to N Nevada about 4 years ago. I had to take my former license, my soc sec card & my birth cert to get a new license, and they ran me thru the system for wants & warrants, etc. I recieved my warm as toast license right there before I left the building.
I had to provide the same to open a new bank account. First time in my life.
I was botn in Wisconsin, and except for a trip into Juarez in 1961, I have never left the states.

[HollyButler]

I can assure you that illegals DO NOT CARRY AUTO INSURANCE
Right when many are incline to flee from accidents why bothering getting insurance, it’s cheaper to flee and fleeing requires no monthly insurance payment