Battle over licenses for immigrants not over

Alicia Robinson

The state Assembly’s Monday vote to overturn a law allowing illegal

immigrants to get driver’s licenses did not end the battle over the

issue, local activists on both sides said.

“All I feel is that we have put this to sleep temporarily,” Costa

Mesa activist Dan Worthington said. Worthington gathered signatures

supporting a statewide referendum of the driver’s license law. He is

also a director of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District.

He opposed the law because granting privileges and services to

people who are in the country illegally creates financial problems

for the state, he said.

Worthington is not alone in thinking the issue will rear its head

again.

“There is concern that a compromise will be reached between the

bill’s proponents and the governor’s office,” 68th District

Assemblyman Ken Maddox said.

Maddox is the Orange County chairman of Save Our License, which

spearheaded the referendum effort.

He said the group’s work will continue despite Monday’s apparent

victory in the legislature because he expects state Sen. Gil Cedillo

(D-Los Angeles) to introduce legislation granting the licenses some

time early in 2004.

Cedillo was the author of the overturned law, Senate Bill 60.

Maddox said the issue has come up before and he’s always voted

against it.

“I don’t believe anybody in the country illegally should have a

driver’s license,” he said. “Secondly, I don’t believe they’ll get

insurance.”

Proponents of the law have said the ability to obtain driver’s

licenses will allow illegal immigrants to get auto insurance.

Elbira Diaz, a local director for the League of United Latin

American Citizens, said she’s disappointed in the assembly’s vote

Monday.

“It’s sad news that we cannot have it right now,” she said. “I

think it’s a loss for everyone.”

Many illegal immigrants have jobs and have to drive to get to

work, so right now they’re driving without licenses, she said.

“That’s a reality whether we want to see it or not,” she said.

Diaz said she hopes new legislation granting illegal immigrants

licenses will be put forward.

Worthington said he’s prepared to work for a referendum again if

the Assembly passes a similar law.

Legislators’ previous handling of the issue was political

maneuvering aimed toward getting votes in upcoming elections, he

said.

“I think that was 100% of the reason they voted the way they did

on both sides of the issue,” Worthington said.

“I think it’s a belief on the part of some politicians that they

want to address the needs of the Latino organizations, but what I

really think they need to do is the right thing,” he added. “And the

right thing to do is make sure that we’re looking after the safety of

the people of California and the United States.”

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment.

Reach her at (949) 764-4330. .