July 14, 2004

Tennessee's Wretched Licenses-For-Illegals Plan Under Fire

Tennessee's awful policy of giving "driving certificates" to illegal aliens is now under fire in federal court, via a lawsuit that claims it is discriminatory. The new certificate policy, in place for only a few months, already has raised eyebrows after the Tennessee state police announced that they would accept the certificates as legal identity documents even though the law specifically prohibits the use of the certificates as identity documents and they are stamped "Not Valid for Identification."

Plaintiffs' attorney Jerry Gonzalez said he is seeking class-action status for the lawsuit. He contends the state is using the crutch of homeland security to enforce a discriminatory program.

"Shame on the governor for suggesting that it is a homeland security issue," Gonzalez said. "Clearly, these people aren't security threats."

But Rep. Phillip Pinion, the Union City Democrat who sponsored the legislation, said that it is a vital way to track people in the state.

"We're not going to give them a driver's license, but they are going to drive anyway, so if they get a certificate to drive we have a record," Pinion said. "It stops them from using that driver's license as a means of identification as the terrorists did on 9/11 when they got on the airplanes."

Memo to illegals: You're not a citizen? You want a driver's license? Come here legally. Millions have. What makes you so special that you don't have to obey our laws?