OHIO LICENSE POLICY BECOMES IMMIGRATION ISSUE
DESANTIS
12/9/09
RUNS: 00:03:17
OVER FORTY SEVEN THOUSAND OHIO VEHICLE REGESTRATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION DUE TO A NEW BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES REGISTRATION LAW. THE POLICY REQUIRES VEHICLE OWNERS TO UPDATE THEIR REGISTRATION WITH THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER IN ORDER TO LEGALLY OWN A CAR. IN PREPARATION TO ENFORCE THE POLICY, THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY NOTIFIED THE UNREGISTERED DRIVERS TO COME IN PERSON WITH PROOF OF OHIO RESIDENCY AND SOCIAL SECURITY BY THE DECEMBER EIGTH DEADLINE.
THIS POLICY QUICKLY BECAME CONTROVERSIAL, OUTRAGING THE LOCAL HISPANIC POPULATION WHO FEEL THEY ARE THE VICTIMS OF RACIAL PROFILING. HISPANIC PASTOR BILL JANSEN SPEAKS FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE WHEN HE SUSPECTS WHAT THE STATE WAS REALLY DOING WAS ATTEMPTING TO DOWNSIZE THE NUMBER OF ILLEGALL IMMIGRANTS BY SEEKING PROOF OF LEGAL U.S. RESIDENCY.
Tape: Jansen… runs: 9 seconds
“I feel that the state of Ohio doesn’t want immigrants, and that the state of Ohio is trying to push them out of the state.”
THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS FILED A LAWSUIT CLAIMING THE STATE’S ACTIONS WERE UNLAWFUL. THEY ARGUED THAT THIS IS CONSIDERED IMMIGRATION REGUALTION, AND IS A POWER RESERVED ONLY FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, AN OHIO MAGISTRATE DENIED THE REQUEST ON MONDAY.
THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DENIES THE POLICY TARGETS THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY OR ANY IMMIGRANT GROUPS. OHIO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY’S LINDSAY KOMLANC INSISTS THE FORTY SEVEN THOUSAND THAT RECEIVED LETTERS WERE ONLY THOSE WHO LACKED THE NEW REQUIRED INFORMATION.
Tape: Komlanc… runs: 8 seconds
“The only way the scan was run was by people who did not have a social security number, diver license number, or identification card number.”
GRISELDA GEYGAN OF THE CINCINNATI HISPANIC MINISTRY SAYS THE LAW HAS CAUSED A WAVE OF FEAR. MANY ARE WONDERING HOW THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION.
Tape: Geygan… runs: 11 seconds
“Their biggest concern is what’s going to happen next; how they’re going to be able to drive and how they’re going to meet their obligations for the family. They are really scared.”
ASIDE FROM THE IMPACT ON IMMIGRANTS, THE LAW IS ALSO SAID TO BE A HUGE FINANCIAL MISTAKE FOR OHIO. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAID OHIO ELEVEN MILLION DOLLARS TO ENFORCE THIS LAW. HOWEVER, IMMIGRATION LAWYER JORGE MARTINEZ, WHO WAS AT THE HEARING THIS PAST WEEK, SAYS THAT THE STATE WILL LOSE MORE MONEY IN THE END.
Tape: Martinez… runs: 12 seconds
“I believe that the state of Ohio has made a huge mistake. It is more money what they are going to lose when they lose the immigrant workers and the taxes they are paying. It is the worst business the state has done in decades.”
MANY HAVE PLANS OF IMMEDIATE RELOCATION SINCE THEY ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO LEGALLY DRIVE IN THIS STATE. THIS MEANS LEAVING THEIR OHIO JOBS TO GIVE THEIR TIME AND MONEY TO ANOTHER STATE.
AS FOR THOSE WHO CHOSE TO STAY IN OHIO EVEN WITHOUT VALID REGISTRATION, THEY WILL EITHER FACE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES OR RISK BEING PULLED OVER AND ARRESTED.
IMMIGRATION SERVICES HAS DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH STATE PRISONS. SO IF SOMEONE IS ARRESTED FOR DRIVING AN UNREGISTERED VEHICLE, THE SYSTEM WILL AUTOMATICALLY SEARCH THE NAME FOR IMMIGRATION STATUS, AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN DEPORTATION, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HISPANICS BELIEVE THE STATE WANTED TO DO.
BUT AS OF NOW, THE LAW HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN CHANGED. ALL DRIVERS NOW NEED TO REGISTER A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER IN ORDER TO DRIVE LEGALLY IN THE STATE OF OHIO.
