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24 de Septiembre, 2007
A Safer and More Humane New York
Categorized under Ley | Tags: Immigration, New York
GOOD NEWS from New York:
THE NEW YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION
Press Statement
For Immediate Release, September 21, 2007 Contact: Norman Eng, 212-627-2227 x235
New Driver’s License Policy Is a Win for All New Yorkers Statement of Chung-Wha Hong, executive director of The New York Immigration Coalition:
New York State’s new driver’s license policy, announced today by Governor Spitzer, is a win-win for immigrants and for all New Yorkers and a giant step forward for public safety.
Not only will the new policy enable more New Yorkers to get licensed and insured, making our roads much safer, but it will also make our licensing system far more secure and immune to fraud.
The NYIC has called for a better licensing process ever since former Governor Pataki instituted a controversial immigrant exclusion policy in 2002. The old policy undermined public safety and hindered law enforcement by creating a huge population without records or identification and denying them the ability to drive. The new policy fixes the problem by imposing tough but fair documentation standards for all applicants.
The new policy proves that it’s indeed possible to expand access while improving security. For immigrant New Yorkers whose lives were devastated because they could no longer drive to work or drive their children to school, today is a day to celebrate.
Immigrant communities throughout the nation can take heart that today’s victory may begin to turn the tide toward sensible and humane reforms at the federal level.
We applaud Governor Spitzer and DMV Commissioner Swartz for succeeding in crafting a smart driver’s license policy that will serve as a model for the rest of the nation.
—New York Immigration Coalition
I was a New Yorker longer than I lived in any other state. I have to say, I'm (very pleasantly) surprised by this news! It's about time. And yes, I dare to share the same optimism that Norman Eng voices here.
The more examples of this type of reasoning not-riddled-with-fear that are displayed, the more we waft away the stinking cloud of xenophobia and racism that is too often informing today's legislation and social response to a changing culture and populace, and that in actuality, harms us all.
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kick it, ése.
Comentarios (3)
janna dijo:
This is great news! Some friends of mine (indocumentados) have managed to get licenses (maybe provisional?) in PA and TN, and I'm not sure how. It will be a relief to them, and safer for everyone, when they can get their NY state licenses. Contrary to what some people may think, although they are here "illegally," they usually want to do things as legally as possible. These guys weren't raised as lawbreakers, and they take great pride in every piece of paper they can obtain that makes them a little more "legal."
Palabras por janna spat forth on el 26 de Septiembre, 2007 at 09:06 AM
nezua limón xolagrafik-jonez
dijo:
thats a great point to stress, janna. so often the media and others paint migrants as chronic and genetic lawbreakers. but that's a years-old meme, going wayyyy back. you know, the old projection trick that in modern days the Rovian Right has perfected.
Palabras por nezua limón xolagrafik-jonez
spat forth on el 26 de Septiembre, 2007 at 09:11 AM
janna dijo:
Yes, in fact, I ran across this just after I posted my comment:
http://www.latinalista.net/palabrafinal/2007/09/the_campaign_to_fear_the_illegal_is_unra.html
It's just galling when I see migrantes immediately assumed to be criminals. I see it in the way they're treated by police, and in the faces of people everywhere we go. The migrantes I know are not total angels all the time, but they carry, for the most part, high morals that put the rest of us to shame. They were brought up to adhere to manners and social decorum that no north American would even recognize, or would only attribute to people living 100 years ago. Their situation here in poor, urban neighborhoods, to save money on rent and to be within walking distance of their jobs, puts them in with the criminal elements of those neighborhoods, elements which preceded their arrival. Even if they don't participate in it, their mere residence, and their brown skin and unfamiliar (to most white americans) language, makes them guilty in the eyes of outsiders. I've seen the looks we get in public, speaking Spanish. People hear that, and they shoot hateful glances. It's ridiculous. It makes me sad.
Palabras por janna spat forth on el 26 de Septiembre, 2007 at 12:34 PM