2008 Woodie Awards
Letter: Driver's Licenses for Immigrants - Good for Safety
Issue date: 5/18/05 Section: Opinion
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The question we have been hearing for a long time is, should illegal immigrants be issued a driver's license? My opinion is that everyone, regardless of his or her status her in the United States, should be issued a driver's license.
Just think of how much safer you (one) will feel driving and knowing that there is a greater chance that the person driving next to you has a license and insurance. Right now, no one feels safe because there is a big portion of people driving without a license, and of course without insurance.
I also think the government will have more control of individuals living here. They will have the fingerprints, pictures and addresses of individuals, making criminal cases easier to solve because there will be a bigger chance of a match to appear in the DMV system.
One last reason why I think immigrants should be granted licenses is because I do not think it is fair that they have to pay taxes just like everyone else, yet are denied a driver's license. Everyone knows that even if an immigrant is working with a fictitious social security number they still make and pay taxes.
How, you may ask?
The answer is simply: by having a TIN number, which the social security office provides especially for tax purposes. The government tends to be against immigrants but when it comes to receiving money from them at the beginning of the year they don't say anything.
I honestly think that issuing driver's licenses to everyone (including immigrants) is the best thing for everyone's safety.
Karina Garcia
Just think of how much safer you (one) will feel driving and knowing that there is a greater chance that the person driving next to you has a license and insurance. Right now, no one feels safe because there is a big portion of people driving without a license, and of course without insurance.
I also think the government will have more control of individuals living here. They will have the fingerprints, pictures and addresses of individuals, making criminal cases easier to solve because there will be a bigger chance of a match to appear in the DMV system.
One last reason why I think immigrants should be granted licenses is because I do not think it is fair that they have to pay taxes just like everyone else, yet are denied a driver's license. Everyone knows that even if an immigrant is working with a fictitious social security number they still make and pay taxes.
How, you may ask?
The answer is simply: by having a TIN number, which the social security office provides especially for tax purposes. The government tends to be against immigrants but when it comes to receiving money from them at the beginning of the year they don't say anything.
I honestly think that issuing driver's licenses to everyone (including immigrants) is the best thing for everyone's safety.
Karina Garcia
