Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon lawmakers took up the contentious issue Friday of whether illegal immigrants should be allowed to have drivers’ licenses.  A panel is reviewing possible legislation for the upcoming special session in February.  Salem correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

A federal law will soon require states to rigorously verify documents used to apply for a driver’s license.

Governor Ted Kulongoski put Oregon on the path towards complying with that law by issuing an executive order requiring people to prove they’re in the country legally before they can get an Oregon drivers’ license.

The change means thousands of undocumented workers won’t be able to renew their licenses.

This Gresham woman didn’t want her name to be used because she’s an illegal immigrant.  She says she needs a driver’s license to be able to get to her housecleaning jobs.  She says she came to the U.S. from Mexico 15 years ago and now feels like the rules are being changed on her.

“There wasn’t opportunities available where she used to live.  Now she moved up here, she established her life, and her work income, and now it’s just a change that’s affecting how her lifestyle is and what initially she was trying to get away from.”

A pair of bills under consideration would cement what the governor decreed in his executive order.  But the legislature’s own legal adviser questions whether the governor over-stepped his authority.

That’s partly why lawmakers are convening the panel. House Majority Leader, Democrat Dave Hunt says they’re not trying to pick on undocumented workers.

Dave Hunt:  “Our goal is not getting into some immigrant bashing.  Our goal is making sure that Oregon drivers’ licenses are safe and secure.”

Some lawmakers want to create a second kind of license for illegal immigrants.  It would be good for driving only, and could not be used as ID to board an airplane.  

Washington state does not require proof of legal status to get a drivers license.  Idaho does.