Lawmakers hear emotional testimony about driver’s licenses for immigrants

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — During Thursday night’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at the State House, there was emotional testimony before the from those who say undocumented immigrants face major obstacles without a driver’s license.

“To get a driver’s license is a huge difference for their life,” said Catarina Lorenzo of AMOR Rhode Island. “Undocumented families need to be able to drive to doctors. They are living, they have lives. They have pain. They are sick. They need to go to appointments.”

For an undocumented widow and mother like Isabella Garcia, it means daily challenges in raising her children.

“I struggle every day to take him to practice,” said Garcia. “I struggle every day to take him to school. I struggle every day to go to the supermarket. I struggle even to take them to a park.”

Advocates also say immigrants illegally driving in fear is dangerous for other drivers and for them.

“Risking their own lives in terms of being deported,” said David Morales of the Immigrant Coalition. “Just because they want a better life for themselves and their family.”

It would require proof that taxes have been paid for the last two years.

Advocates say undocumented immigrants pay billions of dollars in taxes without getting social benefits.

“Essentially they’re subsidizing your welfare, they’re subsidizing your Medicare, they’re subsidizing your food stamps, and ultimately they’re subsidizing your social security,” Morales said. “So if you don’t want them to get licenses, then don’t make them pay taxes either.”

Opponents dispute that claim and say the bill is unfair to those who are applying for citizenship through the legal process.

“I know these people work hard,” said Terry Gorman of Rhode Islanders for Immigration Law Enforcement. “I just disagree – you can’t get it through my head – that it’s okay for them to be working here illegally.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding the bill for further study.

But both sides agree federal inaction has created this problem, and that state action will likely be needed to solve it.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2019