Should Illegal Immigrants be given Drivers Licenses - Essay Example

Hassan Al-Ansari ENG107 Dr. Cleveland 2 Should Illegal Immigrants be given Driver’s Licenses? Illegal immigration remains a serious concern to the United States. Each day, new cases of illegal immigrants get to cross the border lines. Improvement in technology is suggested to be contributing to the rise in the number of illegal immigrants accessing the United States. A number of these illegal immigrants make the dangerous journey across the border in search of greener pastures (Anderson, 154). However, upon making their way into the country, they are faced with various challenges. A number of these challenges include the acquisition of documents that would allow them to pursue their dreams. A driver’s license is among these critical documents. The license allows the immigrants an opportunity to travel in pursuit of their economic interests. The debate on whether to allow illegal immigrants access to a driver’s license has been considered across various states. Ten states have allowed these immigrants an opportunity to have a driver’s license. The number only represents about twenty percent of all the states in the country. The attention of this work will be on the arguments about the possibility of illegal immigrants being awarded a driver’s license. Leading arguments in favor of the move to allow illegal immigrants own a driving license is based on the concern of road security. It is argued that allowing these persons an opportunity to own license will involve offering them training and road tests. Such efforts will make them competent drivers. A number of accidents recorded in the United States are associated with unlicensed drivers. Illegal immigrants add to these statistics since they are never trained to drive in accordance with the country’s driving regulations. The suggestion is further advised by the observation that denying illegal immigrants a license does not prevent them from taking the wheel. Additional arguments in favor of issuing illegal immigrants with driver’s license are founded on the concern of record keeping. It is suggested that a viable way of keeping records of the number of illegal immigrants in the country involves issuing them with these licenses. Apparently, driver’s license captures the details of residence, thus reducing the challenge of locating or accounting for illegal immigrants (Anderson, 143). For this reason, allowing the immigrants the right to have a driver’s license makes it possible for the government to understand the dynamics of US population. Such information would be of help in the development of both administrative and governance policies. Advocates of the proposal to issue illegal immigrants with driver’s license further base their arguments on the safety of the drivers. A driver’s license allows the owner to access insurance cover. Illegal immigrants that have been denied the right to have a driver’s license are, subsequently, unable to access insurance cover. Such implies that their vehicles are uninsured. The observation further allows for the reflection of the dangers extended to the public from illegal immigrants that drive without a license. It is important to understand the level of the danger presented to the public by the simple act of not issuing these immigrants with a driver’s license as a measure of promoting good governance. The supporters of licensing the illegal immigrant drivers challenge the basis upon which the anti-terror policy promotes the considered unfairness. Apparently, preventing illegal immigrants from accessing a driver’s license limit the freedom of their movement. Such is further believed to be of significant importance in the regulation of their ability to move contraband or terror material since they will be using public systems. However, the supporters of issuing these illegal immigrants with driving licenses suggest that the move will bring accountability. They argue that is rather easy to track the movements of suspicious cars as compared to that of undocumented individuals. The argument may be considered to be linked with the suggested of documenting these immigrants through offering them with a driver’s license. The move allows for accountability, which is of significant importance in the control of terror threats (Haugen, Musser and Lovelace, 1-200). Such further suggests that allowing these immigrants with an opportunity to own a license will be active in the promotion of public safety as compared to the violation of the immigration laws. The challenge of deportation remains real for the illegal immigrants. However, their contribution in the labor market can never be overruled. Illegal immigrants have been suggested to be the sources of cheap labor across the country. It is along such argument that the consideration of issuing them with driver’s license may be argued. Apparently, the American economy may be described to have been promoted by the tireless input of illegal immigrants. On that note, the act of permitting them to have a driver’s license may be viewed as a complement to their tireless efforts. In addition to the act being a compliment, it will, also, motivate them to work hard and deliver on their limited favor of being in the United States. It may be further argued that the country stands to gain immensely from the input of motivated illegal immigrants. Issuing illegal immigrants with driving licenses will offer them a small window of relief from their fear of deportation. Arguably, deportation remains as the ultimate fear of any illegal immigrant. Some illegal immigrants are challenged by many difficulties at their home country. Some have their lives in danger. Allowing them a driver’s license may be translated a short window of freedom to live in the United States. Such is because a driver’s license is valid for a limited period of time. It is thus possible to regulate the stay of these illegal immigrants within the country. Such further implies that the license will not be cementing their nationality. In conclusion, the concern of issuing of illegal immigrants with driving licenses present credible concerns. However, the challenge stands to present more benefits to the country as compared to their denial of the licenses Issuing illegal immigrants with driving licenses will improve the safety of the population. In addition, it will improve the accountability of these persons, thus improving on national security. It is important to note that the move will be contravening with the immigration provisions. As a result, the need to restructure the immigration act is suggested. Work Cited Anderson, Stuart. Immigration. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood, 2010. Haugen, David M, S. Musser, and K. Lovelace. Immigration. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Read More