Rep. Courtney Opposes New York State Proposal to Offer Driver's Licenses to Illegal Immigrants

Press Release

Rep. Courtney Opposes New York State Proposal to Offer Driver's Licenses to Illegal Immigrants

Washington, Nov 1 - Congressman Joe Courtney today released the following statement regarding New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer's proposal to permit illegal immigrants to apply for state issued driver's licenses:

"New York State's proposal to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants is the wrong prescription for addressing what is without question a growing problem in Connecticut and the nation. Driver's licenses are a privilege earned by American citizens and legal immigrants, and is the most commonly used government issued identification card for domestic air travel and crossing our northern and southern borders."

"More appropriately, we must begin by providing all employers with a modern and quick employee eligibility verification system so that they know that any prospective employee has legal status in this country to work. Let's remove the incentive to work illegally and punish those unscrupulous employers who openly flaunt our labor laws."

"Furthermore, we need to provide greater security on our borders. My nephew is a border patrol agent and I appreciate the hard work that he does for our country. However, he needs help on the border and we in Congress must give our Border Patrol greater resources to fulfill their charge."

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