September 27, 2007

The New York Civil Liberties Union and the NY Coalition for Immigrants’ Rights to Driver’s Licenses sent Mayor Michael Bloomberg a letter today urging him to support Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s decision to expand immigrants’ access to driver’s licenses.

The joint letter addresses Bloomberg’s concerns, recently reported in the press, that Spitzer’s decision conflicts with the federal Real ID Act and will prevent New Yorkers from using their driver’s licenses to board an airplane.

“The new eligibility requirements for a New York driver’s license do not violate the federal Real ID Act. New Yorkers can continue to use their driver’s license for federal purposes, such as passing security in an airport or entering a federal building” the letter says.

The Real ID Act was passed in 2005 to federalize state driver’s licenses into a single national database. States that decide to comply with the Act have until January 1, 2010 to finalize the details of their implementation plan. Following May 10, 2013, non-compliant driver’s licenses will no longer be accepted for official federal purposes.

But states are not required to implement the Real ID Act, even after the 2013 deadline. No states currently comply with the Real ID Act. Seventeen states have passed legislation rejecting it.

The Act raises concerns about unfunded implementation costs, the fear of widespread discrimination against immigrant communities, as well as privacy and administrative concerns. In all likelihood, Congress will revisit the Real ID Act prior to the implementation deadline.

“We fully support Gov. Spitzer’s new guidelines for immigrant access to driver’s licenses,” said Udi Ofer, field director and legislative counsel at the NYCLU. “Mayor Bloomberg should support the governor’s decision, which gives hundreds of thousands of motorists access to driver’s licenses and automobile insurance. It allows immigrants to become full contributing members of our society and economy.”