In a definitive move acting on declared concerns about national security and public welfare, the State of Florida sprang into action last Friday as a commonsense law, forbidding the recognition of driver’s licenses issued to illegal aliens by other states, was enacted. This legal brainchild, introduced as part of a package of laws by the sharp Florida legislature, is a direct response to what they perceive as the Biden administration’s unresponsive stance towards the escalating illegal immigration crisis along the US-Mexico border.
Crafted as SB1718, the law is not confined to the realm of driver’s licenses but extends its long arm to encompass business and healthcare sectors as well. On one hand, it tightens the employment field by imposing penalties on businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants, an administration-backed effort aimed at ensuring fair employment opportunities for American citizens. Simultaneously, it strengthens the healthcare system by requiring Medicaid-accepting hospitals to inquire about patients’ citizenship status.
On a national level, 18 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have gone the misplaced humanitarian route by issuing driver’s licenses to illegal aliens – a misstep that the Florida legislation fiercely corrects. The list of these states includes:
– California
– Colorado
– Connecticut
– Delaware
– Hawaii
– Illinois
– Maryland
– Massachusetts
– Minnesota
– Nevada
– New Jersey
– New Mexico
– New York
– Oregon
– Utah
– Vermont
– Virginia
– Washington
In these states, the laws for granting such licenses teeter on the edge of unchecked leniency. Some states issue specially formulated licenses that aren’t to be used as proof of identification, while others such as New Jersey draw no such line.
New Jersey’s law, particularly, mandates two kinds of documents under federal guidelines. The first category is the Real ID, and the second is a standard driver’s license that can be procured by any resident, despite their immigration status. Furthermore, the state makes it unlawful to disclose personal information for immigration-related purposes unless expressly authorized by the individual. There’s a growing sense of concern that most of these states do not necessarily require practical driving tests for issuing these undocumented licenses. They merely mandate documentary proof that the immigrant was permitted to drive in their home country.
Despite the potential safety and security risks, mainstream media, including CBS News, has been quick to label this corrective legislation as “controversial.” There have been reports of migrant workers leaving their jobs in Florida due to this law. As Yvette Cruz from the Farmworkers Association of Florida reported to CBS, “We are hearing people are starting to leave. We’re just going to keep seeing that more as the law takes effect.”
Opponents of the law should take note: Illegal immigrants leaving Florida is not a glitch but a feature of this legislation. The law aims to uplift American labor market stability by warding off wage suppression due to illegal immigration – an objective clearly in harmony with the welfare of farmworkers and other American labor groups.
Other critics and high-profile opponents, including former Mayor of Boston and Democrat Martin Walsh, claim that states such as Connecticut have seen a reduction in hit-and-run crashes and unlicensed driving since implementing similar laws. Yet, the very sources of this data did not track hit-and-run data before 2015, sketching a dubious justification.
When all is said and done, this controversy is wrapped up in national politics. With Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pushing ahead on such divisive issues, he has rattled the cages of both the open-border advocates and fans of cheap, exploited immigrant labor. However, the ultimate goal rests with the welfare of legal American workers and the safety of Florida’s roads. So when the dust of this political storm finally settles, one fact remains clear and uncontested – Florida and DeSantis are setting the precedent and showing the nation how to balance security, economy, and compassion.
