| PRESS RELEASE |
9/21/2007
212-627-2227 x235
New Driver’s License Policy Is a Win for All New Yorkers
| Click here for information from the NYS DMV about the new policy
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 denied 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. Click here for Governor Spitzer's press release Click here for our op-ed in the NY Daily News (9/23/2007) |
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 NY_Daily_News_Driver_License_Op-Ed.pdf |