L.A. Now: Sheriff Baca backs driver's licenses for illegal immigrants

Los Angeles Times / LATimes.com ^ | February 23, 2012 | 11:08 am | -- Robert Faturechi, Joel Rubin and Paloma Esquivel

[thecodont]

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said he supports the idea of allowing illegal immigrants to have driver's licenses as long as they have been in the United States for a number of years without committing other crimes.

Baca's comments Thursday come as Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck has also expressed support for driver's license for illegal immigrants.

Baca said such licenses should only be issued after illegal immigrants fill out comprehensive applications, similar to those for citizenship. The sheriff also said the licenses should be up for renewal annually, and be noticeably different than those issued to citizens.

"There's enough potential for Chief Beck's idea for it to be explored," Baca said Thursday.

The sheriff has expressed openness to illegal immigrants being issued driver’s licenses before. In 2002, he supported a proposal to allow the licenses, but to imprint them with a special marker such as the letter “I” for immigrant so police could determine immediately if they were dealing with someone in the country illegally.

At the time, the sheriff was the head of a task force helping then-Gov. Gray Davis craft a plan to allow certain unlawful immigrants to get licenses, a proposal that eventually was scuttled.

Baca emphasized then that many illegal immigrants were already driving without having passed a driver's test or buying auto insurance.

"At some point in time, we will allow illegal immigrants to have a driver's license as long as they are trustworthy and non-criminal people," Baca said at the time.

[thecodont]

They're here illegally and already criminals. Why reward criminal behavior?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Baka means “fool” in Japanese.

[Kickass Conservative]

>”They’re here illegally and already criminals. Why reward criminal behavior?”<

Because the L.A. County Sheriff is an Elected office and in California, being Illegal doesn’t mean you can’t Vote.

Thank Bill Clinton and Motor Voter for that little fact.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Recall his ass. What part of “illegal” doesn’t he comprehend ?

[Mustang Driver]

You have to show your birth certificate, social security card, two utility bills and marriage license to get a driver’s license and this Sheriff is advocating breaking federal law?

Seriously, it is time to haul sanctuary cities into court and order them to start Obeying the federal law.

[Beaten Valve]

The arrogance of Beck & Baca is unbelieveable.

Why should I bother to follow the law anymore??

[RetiredTexasVet]

I think that they ought to issue them for free in Californicate. A good grass roots place to get them out might be LA city and county jails, drug dens, Federal immigration lockups and the Sheriff’s girlfriend’s escort service.

[Prospero]

What else does the LA Sheriff want to do for these illegals. Bake them a pie?

[bcsco]

This is a ping list promoting Immigration Enforcement and Congressional Reform.
If you wish to be added or removed from this ping list, please contact me.

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[eyeamok]

Sound great, now if we add this law it would be perfect:

Any Citizen or Legal Resident that is not employed by a Government Agency Shall be Entitled to Fair and Just compensation for any Injury or Loss as a result of a person who entered the country Illegally. All compensation Shall be paid by the Public Employees in the State through a Direct Payroll Tax on All PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AND PUBLIC SERVANTS.

You want them You PAY FOR THEM.