Religious leaders call for drivers licenses for undocumented to continue

[rug]

By Nicolas Mendoza | 09.21.11 | 3:15 pm

Over a hundred religious leaders in New Mexico have released an open letter to lawmakers asking them not to end a 2003 law permitting undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. Fox News Latino reports:

Leaders from a dozen or so faith affiliations submitted the open letter Wednesday as pastors and rabbis lobbied lawmakers. Religious leaders denounced in the letter the “hate-filled rhetoric” surrounding the debate over attempts to repeal the law.

Holly Beaumont, Director of Interfaith Worker Justice New Mexico, said around 115 pastors, clergy, rabbis and other religious leaders signed the letter.

Religious leaders have proven a strong ally to immigrant rights activists seeking to prevent the rise in immigration enforcement legislation across the country. In Alabama, an immigration enforcement law of unprecedented scale has been greeted with protests which include many religious leaders, and the ongoing lawsuit to block implementation of the law has multiple bishops from different faiths in the state as plaintiffs. In Georgia, a similar law prompted religious leaders to embark on a self-described “pilgrimage” across the state to spread awareness about the law’s potential effects and their belief that religious people should oppose it.


http://newmexicoindependent.com/71557/religious-leaders-call-for-drivers-licenses-for-undocumented-to-continue

[newfie11]

1. this is in NM where the Constitution is written in Spanish and english

Good for the religious leaders!!

[Warpy]

5. This state is bilingual, period, and respectful of tribal languages, also

The licensing program has been a good one, allowing undocumented workers to drive legally in registered and insured cars. It's also given them ID that will work for things like cashing checks but it's different from legal licenses in that it doesn't have an SSN, so it can't be used as ID for voter registration.

It's humane and it allows them to learn and respect our laws. I'm not surprised a lot of religious leaders, especially Catholic, have come forward in favor of the program.

We sensible atheists have, too.

[newfie11]

15. I grew up in NM

Got my first drivers license there. I have lived many places but NM will always be home.

[Warpy]

17. I grew up all over the place

but Boston and NM will always be home to me.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rug]

3. That will surely end fatal car crashes.

[darkstar3]

4. Educate me: Why is immigration law a religious issue?

[rug]

7. The Golden Rule.

Why is pedophilia a religious issue?

[darkstar3]

14. And?

The Golden Rule is all about how individuals treat others. It has nothing to do with governance.

A government official, such as a legislator or an executive or a judge, should not base their reasoning for anything regarding law on religious principles, because we have a secular government with an Establishment Clause. We don't like it when the right tries to legislate their religious ideas, so why do it on our side?

Again, I don't see how immigration law is a religious issue.

[laconicsax]

9. Spelling.

You can't spell "immigration lawyer" without "religion."

[rug]

11. Who got Dawkins his visa?

[laconicsax]

12. You should launch a thorough investigation. n/t

[cleanhippie]

6. What does this have to do with this forum?

:shrug:

[rug]

8. darkstar beat you.

[cleanhippie]

10. So you have no answer? You certainly didn't answer darkstar, either.

[rug]

13. Ok, I won't answer you either.

Disregard this.

[cleanhippie]

16. Disregard this.