Spanish driver's license tests drop 90%-illegals living in fear of laws

The Oregonian ^ | November 02 | Gosia Wozniacka

[HollyButler]

Stricter driver's license requirements, which block illegal immigrants from getting a license, have slashed the number of Spanish speakers taking the license test in Oregon. Critics of illegal immigration say the new law is a success. But community advocates say there has been no exodus of undocumented immigrants from Oregon.

"It's obviously working in that people who shouldn't be getting a license are not getting them," said Jim Ludwick of Oregonians for Immigration Reform. "I don't think all of them will leave the state, but we have been champions of attrition through enforcement."

Gov. Ted Kulongoski ordered Driver and Motor Vehicle Services to start verifying Social Security numbers last year. The number of people taking the DMV test in Spanish fell by more than 90 percent after the governor's order went into effect in February. The number has remained equally low every month since. Community advocates say those who lost their license are finding alternative ways of getting around, including getting a Washington license and using public transportation.

"Some people thought Latinos in Oregon would start packing their cars. But it's not happening, and it's not going to happen," said Francisco Lopez, director of CAUSA, Oregon's immigrant rights coalition. "They won't be going back to extreme poverty in Mexico and unemployment in Guatemala. Despite the new hardship, it's still better to be here."

The law has had other effects

[HollyButler]

Illegals expected to comply with the law are saying it is causing fear and panic,thought this is what laws being disobeyed are suppose to do

[VaBthang4]

Good.

[unixfox]

Not to worry, Kalifornia will take them.

[Dilbert San Diego]

So then are illegals explicitly allowed to get driver’s licenses in Oregon?

[Dilbert San Diego]

Why do they give driver’s license tests in Spanish, when all the road signs a driver sees are in English????

[mlocher]

"It's obviously working in that people who shouldn't be getting a license are not getting them," said Jim Ludwick of Oregonians for Immigration Reform. "I don't think all of them will leave the state, but we have been champions of attrition through enforcement."

Of course they won't leave the state. They no longer have the ability to drive to another state.

[albie]

Waaaaa! Ju mean...I haf too leeve witheen the law?

[USNBandit]

I recently moved to Washington and about 50% of the people in the DMV were Spanish speakers turning in Oregon driver's licenses for new Washington ones.

It appears that one result of Oregon giving away their licenses is that it makes it easier for illegals to use them as a jumping off point to i.d. in other states.

[dblshot]

Just ‘cause they don’t have a license or insurance don’t mean they ain’t driving. Some fear of the lawthat is.

[skeeter]

I feel just terrible.

[albie]

“Just ‘cause they don’t have a license or insurance don’t mean they ain’t driving”.

...I hear ya!

[VeniVidiVici]

Sounds to me like the Oregon DMV can use this opportunity to downsize.

[NonValueAdded]

So Washington State doesn’t have a residency requirement?

[AuntB]

“They won’t be going back to extreme poverty in Mexico and unemployment in Guatemala. Despite the new hardship, it’s still better to be here.”

Yep....MUCH better welfare.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I wonder if they offer English driver’s exams in Mexico. If not, Mexico is racist.

[showme_the_Glory]

Outrageous...Now who will peek dee berries?

[Joe Boucher]

An exodus of illegals?
Sounds good to me.
Keep it up.

[djf]

Hey!

Obama doesn’t have to prove he was born here!
Why should Juan?

[NonValueAdded]

that post is a three-pointer!

[bert]

Think on that statement. They get the license to have ID and to appear as legal resident. Driving legal is secondary.