Immigrant Rights Advocates Denounce Passage of Draconian Driver’s License Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2008

Contact:
Erik Sorensen, Communications, CAUSA (503) 488-0263
Aeryca Steinbauer, Coordinator, CAUSA (503) 984-6816

Immigrant Rights Advocates Denounce Passage of Draconian Driver's License Bill

Under the watch of Democrats, undocumented immigrants lose the ability to drive legally

Salem, OR- Today CAUSA, Oregon's statewide immigrant rights coalition, denounces the passage of SB 1080 and expresses deep disappointment that undocumented immigrants lost the ability to drive legally on the Democrat's watch.

The bill, which passed the State House today by a vote of 45-15, comes just a week after rule changes set forth by Governor Kulongoski's Executive Order went into affect. Since February 4th, the DMV has been operating under new rules requiring individuals to present a valid social security number to obtain a driver's license. Upon final approval from the Governor, SB 1080 will become law requiring individuals to show proof of legal presence in United States and a valid Social Security number before the DMV will issue, renew or replace a driver's license, driver's permit or identification card.

Currently, there are over 120,000 undocumented immigrants in Oregon, many of whom drive on Oregon's roads to get to work, buy groceries, and take their children to school. As a result of this bill becoming law, drivers who can't prove their legal status will be denied a driver's license, causing them to choose between taking care of their families and risking driving without a license and insurance. It is certain to have a disastrous effect on public safety, Oregon's economy and trust in government.

"Denying licenses is an all around bad idea for Oregon." said Aeryca Steinbauer, Coordinator with CAUSA. "Rather than increasing security as Democrats maintain, it will erode the safety of our roads, public trust, the well-being of working immigrant families and Oregon's economy. And it is certain that more than just undocumented immigrants will be at risk under this new law."

In response to this draconian bill being passed by the Legislature, CAUSA and allies are calling on the Governor and legislative leadership to form a committee of legislators, business people and community members to study the economic and social impacts of the Executive Order. They are also calling on quick action to restore driver's license access to all Oregonians.

In addition, CAUSA, Voz Hispana and their allies will launch the largest Latino voter registration campaign in Oregon history.

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Legislature Needs to Protect Driver's License Access for All Oregonians

Last Tuesday, an estimated 5000 immigrants and immigrant rights advocates and supporters gathered at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem to protest new driver’s license rules to go in effect on February 4th. The new restrictions will deny driver’s licenses to any Oregon Resident that can’t show proof of Oregon residency and a Social Security number that can be verified with the federal government.

With hundreds of people watching in hearing rooms, nearly 50 individuals representing a range of interests, but all agreeing on the importance of driver’s license access for Oregonians, testified to members of the Joint Oregon State Senate and House interim Transportation Committees.

By the end of the day, the House Transportation Committee voted in favor of introducing a bill to a full vote of the house. If passed, it would require people to show that they are legally in the United States before obtaining, renewing or replacing an Oregon driver's license or identification card. On January 11th, the Senate Committee voted to advance a nearly identical bill to the full Senate.

Both bills will now advance to the legislative session which starts February 4th, when the committees will consider more testimony and new rules adopted by the Oregon Transportation Commission will take effect.

This is a critical time for immigrants in our State and the safety of ALL residents is at stake. Please support your community members, the health of our economy, and safety on our roads by making a phone call and sending a fax, email and letter to Governor Kulongoski, Senator Rick Metsger and members of the Oregon State Legislature. Tell them that they need to stop, or at the very least delay, the implementation of this costly and restrictive driver's license plan that threatens the public safety of Oregonians and the economy of our state.

To contact Governor Kulongoski, please call his office at 503-378-4582, send a fax to 503-378-6827 and/or e-mail by visiting: http://www.oregon.gov/Gov/conact_us.shtml. Senator Metsger can be reached by phone at 503-986-1726 and e-mail at sen.rickmetsger@state.or.us

To e-blast your State Senator and Representative, please use the Oregon State Legislature webform at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/writelegsltr/

To contact your State Senator and Representative by phone, please call the Capitol Switchboard at 1-800-332-2313 and ask for them by name. The switchboard is open Monday through Friday at 8:00am to 5:00pm so plan to make your calls at that time. If you don't know the name of your legislator, please use the form at http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/

Plan to also be at the State Capitol in Salem on Monday, February 4th from 12:00 Noon to 2:00pm. Our presence is having an impact. We must return and continue to express our support for driver's licenses access for ALL Oregonians. Remember that the public safety of all Oregonians is at stake. YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

Address:
Oregon State Capitol
900 Court Street NE,
Salem, Oregon 97301

For more information contact CAUSA (www.causaoregon.org) at 503-488-0259, Centro Cultural & Washington County at 503-992-0767, and PCUN at 503-982-0243 Ext. 201

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Veteran Police Official Urges Legislature to Reject Driver's License Plan

Yesterday, Ron Louie, a veteran Oregon law enforcement official with over 33 years of experience, responded to new driver's license restrictions requiring proof of citizenship and/or legal residency to obtain an Oregon driver's license. In his OP-ED, which appeared in The Oregonian, Mr. Louie highlighted the impact the new rules will have on the treatment of immigrants and public safety, and calls on the Oregon Legislature to reject such a plan.

Halt the driver's license plan

By Ron Louie

As a police official with over 33 years of law enforcement experience, 20 of those years leading the Astoria and Hillsboro police departments as chief of police, I feel compelled to add my perspectives to the current debate over requiring proof of citizenship and/or legal residency to obtain an Oregon driver's license.

Each of the communities I served as chief valued my outreach to and interactions with community residents of every ethnicity and status. As police chief, it was my mandate to ensure public safety which was accomplished by establishing the policies and goals that lead the crime-fighting, peace-keeping and problem-resolution efforts of the officers. Many times government officials have a tendency to seek policies that on the surface seem either politically expedient or a simple solution to a greater, more complex problem. But once implemented, these policies produce adverse and unintended impacts that may almost negate what we were trying to accomplish.

Mandating proof of citizenship or residency status before issuing a driver's license will have the unintended consequence of increasing unlicensed and uninsured drivers. More and more people will be on Oregon roadways without any benefit of a skills driving test. The most profound consequences will be seen in the Latino community, encouraging otherwise law-abiding aliens to commit serious traffic offenses. People who will be required to drive in connection with their livelihood, in the course of good parenting or attending worship may become involved in accidents. They may then be cited for driving without a license they cannot obtain, face suspensions of their right to apply for a license, and ultimately may be jailed. This represents treatment of immigrants never imagined by our forefathers. Therefore, this mandate would not benefit the public or the undocumented resident of Oregon. >>read on

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Hearing tomorrow on driver's license restrictions

Today, we remember and honor the great civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and call on our members, allies and partners to continue the fight for justice. The time is critical for us all to stand up and defend immigrant workers and families in Oregon as we fight for driver's license access for all Oregonians.

Last week, over 3,000 immigrants and allies attended the Joint Senate and House Transportation Committee hearing on driver license restrictions, the largest turn-out ever for any legislative hearing in Oregon history.

The second hearing in this series will take place tomorrow, and we must continue to pressure legislators to protect everyone's public safety.

We invite you to take some time and view our new eight-minute documentary titled "Bad Policy: A Danger to Public Safety" which includes segments from last weeks hearing at: http://www.causaoregon.org/

Then do two things:

1. Come to the hearing tomorrow! Joint Senate and House Transportation Committee members will continue to hear testimony on if Oregon should require proof of legal presence for driver's license and ID applicants.

When: Tomorrow, January 22th -- Rally at 12 noon, hearing at 1 pm.

Where: Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court St NE, Salem Hearing Room A

2. Call Senate and House Transportation Committee chairs and tell them to: Please, defend the public safety of all Oregonians. I call on you to uphold and restore immigrants' access to driver's license."

Senator Rick Metsger: 503-986-1726
Representative Terry Beyer: 503-986-1412 or 541-607-9207

For for information on immigrants' access to drivers' licenses, please visit www.causaoregon.org

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Oregonians Urge Delay of New Driver’s License Rules

MEDIA ADVISORY
December 31, 2007

Contact:
Ramon Ramirez, President, PCUN 503-989-0073
Erik Sorensen, Communications, CAUSA 503-789-8213

Oregonians Urge Delay of New Driver’s License Rules

Coalition to Hold Press Conference urging DMV to delay implementation of new rules restricting diver's license access

What: Press Conference announcing petitions calling for a delay in implementation of new drivers license rules

When: Monday, December 31, 2007 at 11:00 A.M.

Where: Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles Headquarters, 1905 Lana Avenue NE, Salem, Oregon 97301

Today the Oregon Coalition for Public Safety, an ad-hoc group made up of 25 organizations, will hold a press conference in front of the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Headquarters in Salem. Members of the Latino Community and leaders will present DMV officials with over 3000 petitions signed by Oregonians concerned with the implementation of new administrative rules, as set forth by Executive Order 07-22.

Under the Executive Order's provisions announced by Governor Kulongoski last month, the Oregon DMV will limit the documents accepted to get a driver's license, eliminating documents commonly available to immigrants such as the Matricula card and foreign birth certificates. Presently under Oregon law, all residents of Oregon, regardless of legal status, can obtain a driver's license, an important public safety policy.

There are over 120,000 undocumented immigrants in Oregon, many of whom drive on Oregon's roads to get to work, buy groceries, and take their kids to school. Under the Governor’s new rules, these drivers would not be allow to take drivers classes or pass driving tests, will not be able to get insurance, and will be more likely to be involved in a potentially fatal accident.

Since the release of the Governor's executive order, community leaders and organizations from around Oregon have been raising awarness about the potential danger to public safety. Among their concerns is the probability that immigrants affected by the new rules may be still unaware of the changes. During today’s press conference, the coalition will be calling on officials with the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles and Oregon Department of Transportation to delay implementation of Executive Order 07-22 until adequate outreach has been made to inform the most affected population.

The press conference will begin at 11:00 am. For more information on this event, please call Ramon Ramirez, President of Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United) at 503-989-0073.

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