Easton City Council thinks so, and adopted a resolution last week calling on state legislators to ease the current law. It did so in reaction to a group calling itself Fight For Drivers License. On their website, theu offer this justification: "We believe that driving represents not just access to the use of a car, but the right to use the roads in peace, get to our jobs, and bring food to our families' tables. It represents our ability to live with dignity." But one person is setting up a roadblock - Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli. He has called for a news conference today so that he can expound on his reservations.
On Saturday, he shared his feelings on Facebook. "Last night, although well intentioned, a misguided and uninformed Easton City Council passed a resolution to allow illegal aliens to obtain valid Pennsylvania drivers licenses. These are people who intentionally entered the US illegally with no respect for our immigration laws and without permission from our government. Council should have asked for input from those of us in law enforcement who know that the terrorists who blew up the World Trade Center and killed thousands of Americans all used fraudulent drivers licenses to pass money, get on planes and give themselves cover from their criminal activities. States that in the past handed out drivers licenses to people illegally in the US saw an influx of thousands of foreign criminals to their states and many are now moving to repeal them like New Mexico. This is bad public policy and makes it easier for illegal foreign criminals to do us harm under the cover of a valid state issued drivers license."
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
▼
Monday, June 02, 2014
28 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
We have to remember. We as Americans stole Texas (which was once part of Mexico) from them. Not only Texas, but some of the surrounding states borders were once Mexico. Look at how prosperous that part of the Country is and then look at what we left for the poor mexicans. We left them deserts and barron lands and took the best for the good ole USA. We musttake care of the illegal aliens, after aall we stole so much of their land. Kinda reminds us of what is going on now with Russia and the Ukraine.
ReplyDeleteReally? A little conspiracy theory drivel? Let's look at it another way...my parents came into this country illegally. I get it. But, I was born here. I have lived here all my life, have never been arrested, made honor roll throughout high school and college, yet I am considered an undocumented worker, have no social security number and cannot get a driver's license. Let's applaud easton city council and hope that our next governor doesn't appoint morganelli to his cabinet, which we already know will happen.
ReplyDelete9:04: Please read the Constitution. If you were born here, you are citizen of the United States whether or not your parents were here illegally.
ReplyDeleteSheesh.
@9:04
ReplyDeleteWhat was pointed out by 9:36 re citizenship status would be known by anyone with illegal parents, but who was born in this country. Pregnant mothers time their crossings into the US with the intent of giving birth in the US for that very reason - automatic citizenship.
Methinks thou art full of shit.
O'Hare hates "undocumented immigrants"?
ReplyDeleteHa ha
Racist!
If the state of PA does not do this, why does a tiny local government think that THEY have a right to do this? Idiots, every one on that council
ReplyDelete9:52, Um, I actually tend to believe that undocumented immigrants get driver licenses. But I am presenting both sides of the story.
ReplyDeleteEvery City Council member stated that we did not support "illegal residents" and encouraged them to become legal citizens and the documentation of a drivers license helps to do that by knowing who they are and where they live. I take exception to the fact when it is stated that all of these individuals entered our country illegally. That is not true. What is true is that many entered legally but stayed illegally after their visa ran out.
ReplyDeleteLook, this is a great country and people want to be here to offer their families the same opportunities that we have and that our ancestors wanted for us. Yes the illegal citizens who come here to do harm, to sell drugs, etc. they are not the ones that we are discussing. And to compare these residents to people like the terrorists that bombed the WTC is nor only disingenuous but also reeks of profiling.
Lastly, City Council has no authority on this issue. It was a Resolution, not an Ordinance. It was meant to get our federal legislators to start making decisions that affect issues that truly affect Americans and immigration reform is certainly one of them. They talk and talk, but no action.
Sal, I will ask the DA to address your attack on him. He did not question your good will. It is unfortunate you choose to question his, or that you adopted this resolution without consulting law enforcement.
ReplyDeleteBernie, I did not attack the DA, I have a lot of respect for John so please don't think that. I only took exception to the part about terrorists and criminals. The vast majority of our immigrants, legal or otherwise, are good people who work hard to provide for their family. But it was not meant as any attack on John.
ReplyDeleteSal, with all due respect council is only asking for trouble. Why not use common sense and urge the feds to allow recognition of international drivers license. They are issued in many other countries to allow tourists to drive. The only way to get one is to pass the test and proof of paid insurance bond.
ReplyDeleteBorn here a citizen, stop the bullshit and go get your legal license.
ReplyDeleteAs to Easton, vote getting posers. What a crock of shoat. Ask the cops about all the uninsured aliens driving around. It is a mess.
Born here a citizen, stop the bullshit and go get your legal license.
ReplyDeleteAs to Easton, vote getting posers. What a crock of shoat. Ask the cops about all the uninsured aliens driving around. It is a mess.
Sal ; get a life Charlie Chrin can;t get You out of this one... If I were DA Morganelli I would post ICE and an Sheriffs deputy at You licensing center and as they apply for alicense escort right over to Our county Hotel for deportation....
ReplyDeleteIvan Putski
As an Easton resident, I am very unhappy with the resolution by Mayor Panto. 1.75% local tax rate and now this.
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell is this country coming to. An undocumented Immigrant probably can't speak or read English therefore cant navigate the roadway ! Whoever came up with this idea needs to get slapped around.
ReplyDelete1. The DA is spot on and illegal immigrants should not be able to obtain a drivers license period. They should go through INS and let that due process take place.
ReplyDelete2. Easton City Council has no legal authority to issue such Tom Follery and I am sure could be spending more time on issues they can legislate.
3. It's time for the citizens of this country to wake up, get out of the iPhone coma and get educated to what really is going on and vote out the politicians that are useless and/or bought and paid for by special interest and/or political party line.
"What is true is that many entered legally but stayed illegally after their visa ran out."
ReplyDeleteSo, they double down on breaking the law, and you want to reward them?
Only from the mouth of a pol.
-Clem
And, the answer to your question is no.
ReplyDeleteUndocumented my ass. They are here illegally. The momos at teh NY Times and the AP came up with that nonsense. They are here in violation of the law, so, that makes them ILLEGAL immigrants.
Play all the fucking word games you want, they broke the law by coming here via other than legally recognized means or, by staying longer than they agreed to so they could get in the first place.
And, yet, they get more slack than a citizen who shoot target with a Red Rider in Hanover Township.
Makes sense to me.
-Clem
Clem, settle down, take a pill. They are undocumented immigrants. That is why they are here illegally. I have no problem with either expression, but believe undocumented is more precise while illegal is more vague. A parking meter violator and a murderer are both illegal. I use a word that more accurately explains the transgression.
ReplyDeleteAnd Clem, no shooting your Red Rider in HT. You'll shoot your eye out.
ReplyDeleteQue?
ReplyDeleteLook at Guy Williams post in the other thread.
ReplyDeletePolitics, common sense, playing word games.
They are here illegally. Those who have overstayed their visas are certainly documented but still are here illegally. Those who have no documents because they came via illegal entry cannot have documents because they are not eligible for them. There is no "I'm here, but I am not supposed to be here" paper.
The analogy you provide is false and comparing apples to two-by-fours. The murderer is not illegal, the act he/she committed is. The status of the immigrant here through other than legal avenues is ILLEGAL.
We both know you are smarter than that. But that liberal Corazon of yours is clouding your thinking.
-Clem
I'm more worried about the Bumphus' dog eating our turkey ;-)
ReplyDelete-Clem
Clem, If you look at your comment more closely, you might find that you are the one playing word games. A murderer is illegal in the same sense that a person who has entered this country without permission is illegal.
ReplyDeleteI will clarify. A U.S. Citizen is not illegal if he commits murder. He is still a citizen. He/she may lose certain rights due to the commission of the illegal act of murder, but is still LEGALLY within the country's boundary. An illegal immigrant is one whose status is not undocumented, but, ILLEGAL. That is, ILLEGALLY present within the boundaries of the USA. That is the law as I understand it.
ReplyDelete-Clem
When the word "illegal" is used with the word aliens or immigrants it is meant to mean just that. They are here illegally. An illegal immigrant that is accused of murder would be referred to as an illegal immigrant that committed murder. Stop the play with words. They are illegal immigrants, period.
ReplyDeleteWhy should we (the USA) allow illegal immigrants or any other type of immigrants in the USA when our unemployment rate is so high. When unemployment reaches zero...then open the doors for illegal immigrants to become legal. Until then, keep them south of the border.
And I am not a bigot. I married an Irish girl.
Pretty simple Folks. Do what it takes to become a citizen, get ID,learn to speak English . Do these things and all is well. DONT do these things then
ReplyDeleteGET THE FUCK OUT .
We dont need to be making new laws for the lazy , scumbag ethnics who dont want to play by the rules.