2009/06/04: Action needed this week for in-state tuition and immigrant drivers' cards for the State Senate approval of the budget

UPDATE: The state Assembly has approved funds in the state budget for drivers cards and tuition equity for children of undocumented immigrants. Now it's time to call your WI state Senators.

Coalition for Safe Roads Needs Your Organizational Letter.Last week the Assembly approved funds in the  State Budget that creates Driver Cards for immigrants and refugees in Wisconsin who are currently not eligible for Driver's Licenses.  This provision is allowed for states under the federal REAL ID Act and has been successfully implemented by the state of Utah since 2005.   We need your help to ensure the Driver Card provision stays in the State Budget and is signed into law!   The budget will go to the Senate next week for a vote.Please send a blind copy to Voces de la Frontera at 1027 S. 5th Street, Milwaukee, WI  53204 or fax to 414.643.1621 or email to jeanne@vdlf.org. Thank you for your strong support.

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Sample Letter of Support for Organizations
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[Your Organizational Letterhead]

June 3, 2009

The Honorable (Your Senator)
State Capitol - Room (Number)
Madison, WI 53707

Dear Senator ____________________,

On behalf of  [Organization Name] I wish to express our support for the driver's card provision in Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicles section of the 2009-2011 State Budget.  This provision would provide driver's cards to persons who are unable to provide documentary proof of legal status but who otherwise qualify for driving licenses. 

Immigrants have jobs and families that make driving necessary. Persons without proper documentation have been forced to drive without licenses or with false documents.  Without a driver's license it is more difficult to access auto insurance, and having uninsured drivers on our roads puts all Wisconsin residents at risk.  Restricting driver's licenses has made our roads less safe and does not solve the problem of our broken immigration system. 

Driver cards will provide greater safety on our roads, ensuring that larger numbers of drivers are tested, licensed and insured.  Driver cards will also help protect public safety by providing law enforcement with positive proof of identity for drivers behind the wheel and more efficient access to a person's driving record.  The driver card has received formal support from Chief Flynn of the Milwaukee Police Department, Chief Wray of the Madison Police Department, and the Wisconsin State Troopers Association.  The driver card will also provide much needed revenue for the State of Wisconsin.   The Wisconsin Fiscal Bureau estimates that driver cards will bring in $1 million dollars of revenue to the state within the first year of implementation.

Immigrant workers and their families want to be able to get to work, school, and church safely.   This provision will ensure that workers [our members, clients, congregation members, families, etc] will be able to drive safely and legally to their jobs and continue to be productive, valued members of our state's communities.   I urge you to support the driver card provision offered by Representative in the 2009-2011 State Budget.

Sincerely,

[Your Name and Title]
[Your Organization Name, Contact Information]

CC:  Governor James Doyle, Representative Pedro Colon, House Speaker Representative Mike Sheridan, House Majority Leader Representative Tom Nelson
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Driving Card Fact Sheet
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What is the Driver Card?

The Driver Card is a limited purpose driver's license that would give full authority to operate a vehicle to applicants who are currently not able to provide proof of their immigration status required for a Wisconsin Driver's License.   The federal REAL ID Act allows states to issue limited purpose drivers licenses to people who are not able to provide proof of their legal status and who are not eligible to receive a social security number.  The Driver Card could not be used for federal purposes, which under REAL ID is defined as boarding an airplane or entering a federal building, but could be used for driving and obtaining insurance.  Some states have passed similar measures, including the Utah State Legislature in March 2005.  Utah currently issues 35,000 cards each year and the card generates $1 million dollars annual revenue.

To be eligible for a Driver Card, an applicant would need to successfully pass driving skills, knowledge, and vision tests and meet age requirement for driver's licenses; provide proof of residency in Wisconsin for at least 6 months; provide proof of identity; provide a valid Individual Taxpayer Identification Number from the IRS; and pay the applicable license fee.  Persons with their driving privileges suspended or revoked in Wisconsin or another state will not be eligible for a Driver Card. 

Why does Wisconsin need the Driver Card?
In May 2005 the U.S. Congress passed the REAL ID Act, requiring all states to check immigration status before issuing a driver's licenses or state ID, and to only issue driver's licenses to persons who are US citizens or have legal status. The state of Wisconsin, in anticipation of the REAL ID Act, passed a state law in March 2006 entitled Act 126, which took effect on April 1, 2007.   Under Act 126, undocumented immigrants and persons with legal immigration status who do not have a social security number can no longer obtain a driver's license or state identification. 


Immigrants have jobs and families that make driving a necessity.  Because of Act 126, persons without proper documentation have been forced to drive without licenses or with false documents.  Without a driver's license it is more difficult to access auto insurance, and having uninsured drivers on our roads puts all Wisconsin residents at risk.  Restricting driver's licenses has made our roads less safe and does not solve the problem of our broken immigration system. 


The Driver Card is needed to:

Protect Public Safety.  The Driver Card would insure that more drivers on Wisconsin roads obtain proper driver education, pass driving tests and vision exams, and be entered into the state DMV database.  People with Driver Cards would be eligible for auto insurance, therefore reducing the number of uninsured drivers on our streets.  The Driver Card will help law enforcement officials conducting traffic stops by providing a positive proof of identity of the driver and access to their driving record.  

Bring Needed Revenue to Wisconsin.  In a time of fiscal crisis, the Driver Card will bring badly needed revenue to our state.  The Wisconsin Fiscal Bureau estimates the Driver Card will generate $1 million dollars within the first year of implementation.  The Driver Card would also provided a needed economic spark plug for the automotive industry and have a ripple effect into all sectors of the state economy.  Since implementing a similar driver card in Utah,  the state has issued over 35,000 cards and has brought in over $1 million dollars in revenue.

Help Wisconsin Families, Communities and Economy.  Immigrants make countless positive contributions to Wisconsin communities, schools, churches, economy, and culture.  For example, Latino immigrants make up an estimated 42% of the labor force on Wisconsin dairy farms, and have become essential to this $16 billion dollar industry and cultural cornerstone of our state.  The Driver Card would ensure that people drive safely and legally to work in order to continue to be productive members of our communities.


For more background on the Driver Card, visit the Voces de la Frontera website, www.vdlf.org or call the office at 414.643.1620.

 

 

Drivers' Cards for Immigrants  Passes 12-4 Joint Finance Committee, follows in-state tuition victory last week 

We have wonderful news to report, last night the Joint Finance Committee voted 12-4 (12 Democrats in support, 4 Republicans against) to include  Driver's Card for immigrants in the state budget. The motion was part of a larger Omnibus Motion of the Department of Transportation budget. This critical step in the legislative process was the result of the hard work that has been achieved collectively by members of the Coalition for Safe Roads and supporters, and Representative Pedro Colon's leadership and the hard work of his staff.  

 

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Plus, Reports from the May Day events in Milwaukee and Madison:

Despite a bad economy, inclement weather, concerns about swine flu, and false rumors that the march had been cancelled around 30,000 people joined the Milwaukee May 1 march to support the Obama Administration's recent declarations in support of passing humane immigration reform in 2009 and to express their solidarity with immigrant families and workers. 

 

The march snowballed from 100 to 1,000 to 20,000 to 30,000 as it wound it's way from Milwaukee's Southside across the 6th street viaduct bridge, through downtown and into Veteran's Park. Read more from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel...and Channel 27, Badger Herald, Daily Cardinal, and Channel 3000 were there for the rally in Madison.  Also see the AP story featured in The Capital Times, the Wisconsin Radio Network story, WPR stories from Friday and Monday, and this blog: People's issues follow in footsteps of immigrant workers.

 
Closing speakers at the Veteran's park rally in Milwaukee included US Congresswoman Gwen Moore who said, "There isn't anyone or anything that can come between us on this issue." State Representative Pedro Colón, said, "Latino elected officials have made this a priority so that the Administration doesn't forget that we need a just immigration reform," then referencing his own work at the state legislative level, he said, "People need a drivers' license so they can live in peace and students need a fair tuition so they can go to college like their peers." The event was also supported by labor, faith, and diverse community based organizations.
 
Following the May 1 march, Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, said, "We need to stay united and work hard to ensure that the people have a voice in the legislative process so that we can achieve a legalization that is dignified of all immigrants in the United States."  Voces de la Frontera will be organizing a series of community forums to get input on legislative proposals and an upcoming lobby day at the State Capitol.

Voces de la Frontera is a member group of WNPJ - watch for ALERTS!

Contact: Voces de la Frontera - Milwaukee, 1027 S. 5th Street - Phone: 414-643-1620

Voces de la Frontera - Racine, 718 Memorial Drive - Phone: 262-619-4180

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May Day Shows Community Solidarity!

Immigrant Workers Union (UTI)

Contact Information:   Yvonne Geerts 608/335-0357 Alex Gillis 608/345-9544 

Email: yvonne@uniondetrabajadores.org , alexmgillis@gmail.com

Madison, Wisconsin-May 1^st, 2009

Today, around 600 to 700 people marched from Brittingham Park in Madison to the Capitol Square and on to the Dane County building demanding the rights of the “immigrants, the poor, and the workers.” The fourth anniversary of the massive marches of spring 2006, hit Madison with renewed energy to further the agenda of solidarity among the poor the immigrants, and the workers. The demands that highlighted issues such as passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, universal health care, a repeal of the increased bus fare, and that the Dane County Sheriff step down. 

The events began a little after 11 am with the arrival of students from local high schools and the University of Wisconsin. The rally was opened with folk singer Vicki Guzman from Toronto and was followed by a series of speakers that included, John Peck from the IWW and several members of UW student organizations. (see bellow for the complete list) 

At the Capitol, there were a few words spoken by the president of the South Central Federation of Labor, Jim Cavanaugh; Carolina Ortega from MEChA who made a case for the passage of the Dream Act; recently fired Taco Bell workers on behalf of the Workers’ Rights Center; Bill Franks from the State Employees Action Coalition; and Will Williams for the Madison Area Peace Coalition who inspired the crowd with his words on the importance of unity, solidarity, and grassroots organizing.

At the main event at the Dane County Building, the crowd heard words from Luis Rodriguez an activist from LA, students, workers, housing activists mixed with music from the Raging Grannies and the Chicano Son group, Son Mudanza.

Organizers of the event were content with the rally, “we have more diversity, broad support, and many youth this year because we’ve tied our struggle with that of other communities” said Yvonne Geerts of the IWU.  However they point out that the outbreak of swine flu and the neglect of local radio “La Movida” to inform about the rally were major obstacles for this year’s turnout.

La Movida, the only 24 hour Spanish language radio, neglected to inform listeners about the Madison rally yet announced the rally in Milwaukee and created confusion regarding whether or not there would be a rally in Madison. “We think La Movida’s actions show poor journalism and artificially create divisions in the immigrant movement. Our community suffers a lot as it is and it is unfortunate that we don’t have an unbiased, informative, serious radio station,” said Alex Gillis of the IWU.

Nationally, the turnout at the rallies has been smaller, with some exceptions. Organizers across the nation credit this to the hopes people have for Obama to pass immigration reform, the fear of the consequences in missing a day of work in difficult economic times, and a general anti-immigrant climate with record numbers of raids and deportations all across the nation.

 The Immigrant Workers' Union would like to thank the Madison community for its continued support of immigrant workers and for this year’s tremendous show of solidarity.

Latest Developments on Deportations from Dane County Jail

Today, John Hendrick confirmed that county board supervisors are introducing new legislation this Tuesday that will limit sheriff Mahoney’s reporting of immigrants to I.C.E. He addressed the crowd enthusiastically with “Que Queremos?!” and the crowd responded, “Justice!” The new legislation was written departing from text created by the Immigrant Workers’ Union in collaboration with local lawyers. “I am incredibly hopeful that this resolution will pass because it includes the spirit of our text,” said Yvonne Geerts of the IWU. The policy is focused on the current actions by sheriff Mahoney in calling I.C.E. on any non-US citizen that is booked into the jail, even those who are just waiting to pay bail, “We ask that the sheriff not notify I.C.E. because people are innocent until proven guilty and that is due process in this country.” she added.