The change in regulations for issuing driver’s licenses in New Jersey has forced undocumented immigrants to find alternatives for obtaining them: travel long distances or risk the use of false documents.
In the Garden State, the business of secretly transporting groups of people to North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, Utah and Virginia to get licenses has become quite popular, as laws in those states are relatively lenient.
The service is advertised by word of mouth, as new clients always come recommended by someone who successfully obtained a license.
According to Patricia, who undertakes this enterprise in Somerville, “The arrangement is made a month ahead of time. The client begins to send mail to the address he will indicate as his home, while, at the same time, studying for the driver’s license written exam." She adds, “For a fee ranging between $800 and $1,500, the person is taken by bus to a state of his choice. There, he goes to the local Department of Motor Vehicles to take the written exam. After passing it, he presents the documents required for identification, including an insurance policy that’s been previously purchased. Three days later, he leaves with his driver's license," says Patricia.
In these states the law permits undocumented persons to obtaining a driver's license -- it is not considered illegal to be undocumented in this country -- so, in some cases, real documents can be presented at the Department of Motor Vehicles. However, it is against the law to register a local address as one's home, falsely.
“I went to another state to get my driver's license after the Department of Motor Vehicles suspended my New Jersey license because the Social Security number I gave didn't coincide with my name,” said Luis Sánchez, a carpenter for whom driving is fundamental for his job.
With a tone of satisfaction, he says, “I had to sleep in a motel with other people. The trip was 11 hours long, but it was worth it. A while ago the police stopped me in Elizabeth for a traffic violation. I presented my new license, was given the ticket, and I went on my way.”
In addition to those who travel long distances, there are those who cannot travel and whose only alternative is to buy false documents and present them with their application.
According to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), ever since the “six points” program was implemented two years ago, around 2,000 arrests have been made. Between April and August of this year, 563 people were arrested trying to obtain a driver's license with fraudulent documentation, and 15 DMV employees were accused of conspiracy.
The six-point ID verification program consists of assigning values to the different documents that can be used to obtain a license.
Sharon Harrington, chief administrator of the Department of Motor Vehicles, says: “The street value of the complete set of documents that needs to have six points is between $1,000 and $5,000.”
“The second highest number of arrests is for presenting stolen documents,” says Ken Shuey, director of Security and Investigation at DMV.
The charge of falsifying and selling false documents carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and up to $15,000 in fines.
Reverend Miguel Rivera, president of the National Latino Coalition of Christian Clergy and Leaders (NLCCCL), and Martín Pérez of the Latino Leadership Alliance (LLA) proposed a law in March that would grant special driving permits to undocumented immigrants.
“If it were approved, 350 million people would benefit who currently can't renew their licenses because they don’t meet the established requirements,” affirms Rivera.
The measure was supported by Brian Stack, assemblyman for District 33 and mayor of Union City, New Jersey, who has begun a legislative study in order to present the proposal as law.
Pérez says “the possibilities that this project will be approved are high, since under the Real ID Act, states are permitted to extend special permits to undocumented immigrants. Currently 13 two years ago when states are considering similar measures.”
According to DMV records, some 520,000 licenses, which represent around 10 percent of the 5.7 million licenses issued, will not be accepted by federal agencies as valid identification.
New Jersey State Attorney General Peter Harvey said: “I agree with granting special driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants because it would help the undocumented as well as authorities.”
