California starts issuing licenses for illegal immigrants

January 2nd lines for the DMV across California were longer than usual, some snaking out of the buildings, through parking lots and wrapping around city blocks, as ranks of illegal aliens showed up to take advantage of a new California law that grants driver’s licenses to anyone regardless of citizenship status, as long as major road tests can be passed.

The idea to allow illegal immigrants driver’s licenses first was floated out more than 30 years ago, and has since become a galvanizing issue for both sides of the immigration debate. Those for the initiative laud the attempt to draw more people into the system, which creates accountability; opponents believe that by validating illegal immigrants and helping them into the system will only inspire more aliens to emigrate across the border.

“I’m really excited for the people of California because now we’ll ensure that every motorist will be licensed, tested and insured,” said L.A. City Councilman Gilbert Cedillo to the LA Times. “It was difficult politically to carry a legislation for a community that was vilified, not appreciated, and marginalized.”

Cedillo has been one of the most vocal proponents for issuing licenses to illegal aliens and said the measure coming to fruition gave him “a great sense of satisfaction.” The arguments for allowing immigrants the opportunity to access licenses in California insist that by offering more compassionate laws for immigrants will translate to safer roads.

By ignoring the fact that immigrants will use automobiles regardless of whether the state will license them results in only the most daring immigrants to get behind the wheel without any state regulation training or testing.

“We believe a licensed driver is a safer driver,” said Armando Botello, DMV deputy director. Botello contends that the initiative “will make roads safer for everyone in California,” because it accounts for drivers on state roads who have previously been keeping their driving activity under the radar.

One such resident seeking a new chance on the roads was Edward Wahba, a man from Egypt who was forced to give up driving after his license expired in 2007. Subsequent run-ins with the law over the next year left Wahba with a pile of tickets. Ultimately the 32 year old had to stop driving or risk larger legal problems.

“Hopefully I get my license back without any restrictions,” he said. “I’ll be very happy because I have driven for a long time and it’s too hard to live in this country without driving.”