Anterior
Voces de la Frontera Mobilizes 500 in Madison for Drivers' Cards, In-state Tuition
June 22, 2009An estimated 500 persons mobilized to the State Capitol in support of driving cards and instate tuition for immigrants in the State budget. Additionally, a broad coalition of law enforcement, dairy farmers, labor unions, faith leaders, and advocacy groups lobbied members of the Wisconsin State Legislature to adopt the Assembly version of the driver cards provision in the Wisconsin State Budget.
One of these meetings was with State Senator Tim Carpenter, 3rd district. He reported to the delegation that 87% of his constituents in Representative Pedro Colon's district that contacted his office opposed giving driving cards to immigrants. Voces de la Frontera questions the methodology for determining such statistics, especially since his office has no fluent bilingual staff to accurately communicate with his Spanish speaking constituents. Voces de la Frontera also questions whether he sends surveys or mailings in Spanish. One student member called his office today and reported that no one asked him for his address.
A staff person from Carpenter's district reported today to a Voces staff member that they do not understand clearly when Spanish-dominant speakers call. "I suggested that given the high Latino population they represent that they have a staff person who does speak Spanish fluently," explained Jeanne Geraci, Associate Director.
In Senator Carpenter's press release today he indicated Latinos do not overwhelmingly support driver's cards. Voces de la Frontera is a membership based organization working in the Latino community as an immigrant and worker rights center which has organized to get out the Latino vote and organized the largest immigrant rights march in the country on May 1, 2009 - with over 30,000 people in attendance.
"There is no question that the majority of Latinos in Senator Carpenter's district overwhelmingly support immigrant rights including drivers' cards for immigrants and access to higher education for immigrants students. The statements made by the Senator today are shocking and unsympathetic to the real needs of the Latino community." states Christine Neumann Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera.
Despite recent public statements to the contrary, Senator Carpenter supported and voted for both in-state tuition rates for immigrants that graduate from Wisconsin high schools and a driver card option, available under federal REAL ID in 2005 as an amendment to AB69 and has voted for in-state tuition numerous times.
The driver cards would serve as limited purpose driver's licenses for undocumented and legal immigrants whose cases are pending with immigration. As Officer Carlos Valentín from the Madison Police Department stated, "this is not an immigration issue. This is a public safety issue. That is the primary concern of law enforcement. In a state where nine months out of the year, we have severe winter conditions; we want drivers who are tested for eyesight, ability, and knowledge of the rules of the road." The measure has received support from the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, the Wisconsin Troopers Association, as well as numerous local law enforcement officials around the state.
The lobby visits were followed by a rally, sponsored by Voces de la Frontera, in support of driving cards and in-state tuition rates for immigrant students who graduate from Wisconsin high schools. As Pedro, one of the students explained," I am a perfect example of our broken immigration system. My father is a citizen, he petitioned for my mom and I. She is now a citizen but I have been waiting nine years for my papers to come through. My dream is to study Political Science. I graduated last year from high school, but even though I have lived most of my life in Wisconsin, and my family contributes in taxes and votes; I am considered a foreign student and I am charged out of state tuition rates. Due to my status I cannot apply for financial aid. Out of state tuition is unaffordable for my family. Like me there are other students whose lives are limited. All that we ask for is to pay in-state tuition rates, which for some-and not most-will allow us to pursue our dreams."
John Rosenow, again affirmed "immigrants especially in the rural areas, driving is a necessity because public transportation is not available."
One of these meetings was with State Senator Tim Carpenter, 3rd district. He reported to the delegation that 87% of his constituents in Representative Pedro Colon's district that contacted his office opposed giving driving cards to immigrants. Voces de la Frontera questions the methodology for determining such statistics, especially since his office has no fluent bilingual staff to accurately communicate with his Spanish speaking constituents. Voces de la Frontera also questions whether he sends surveys or mailings in Spanish. One student member called his office today and reported that no one asked him for his address.
A staff person from Carpenter's district reported today to a Voces staff member that they do not understand clearly when Spanish-dominant speakers call. "I suggested that given the high Latino population they represent that they have a staff person who does speak Spanish fluently," explained Jeanne Geraci, Associate Director.
In Senator Carpenter's press release today he indicated Latinos do not overwhelmingly support driver's cards. Voces de la Frontera is a membership based organization working in the Latino community as an immigrant and worker rights center which has organized to get out the Latino vote and organized the largest immigrant rights march in the country on May 1, 2009 - with over 30,000 people in attendance.
"There is no question that the majority of Latinos in Senator Carpenter's district overwhelmingly support immigrant rights including drivers' cards for immigrants and access to higher education for immigrants students. The statements made by the Senator today are shocking and unsympathetic to the real needs of the Latino community." states Christine Neumann Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera.
Despite recent public statements to the contrary, Senator Carpenter supported and voted for both in-state tuition rates for immigrants that graduate from Wisconsin high schools and a driver card option, available under federal REAL ID in 2005 as an amendment to AB69 and has voted for in-state tuition numerous times.
The driver cards would serve as limited purpose driver's licenses for undocumented and legal immigrants whose cases are pending with immigration. As Officer Carlos Valentín from the Madison Police Department stated, "this is not an immigration issue. This is a public safety issue. That is the primary concern of law enforcement. In a state where nine months out of the year, we have severe winter conditions; we want drivers who are tested for eyesight, ability, and knowledge of the rules of the road." The measure has received support from the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, the Wisconsin Troopers Association, as well as numerous local law enforcement officials around the state.
The lobby visits were followed by a rally, sponsored by Voces de la Frontera, in support of driving cards and in-state tuition rates for immigrant students who graduate from Wisconsin high schools. As Pedro, one of the students explained," I am a perfect example of our broken immigration system. My father is a citizen, he petitioned for my mom and I. She is now a citizen but I have been waiting nine years for my papers to come through. My dream is to study Political Science. I graduated last year from high school, but even though I have lived most of my life in Wisconsin, and my family contributes in taxes and votes; I am considered a foreign student and I am charged out of state tuition rates. Due to my status I cannot apply for financial aid. Out of state tuition is unaffordable for my family. Like me there are other students whose lives are limited. All that we ask for is to pay in-state tuition rates, which for some-and not most-will allow us to pursue our dreams."
John Rosenow, again affirmed "immigrants especially in the rural areas, driving is a necessity because public transportation is not available."
Mitos y hechos
Mito: La mayoría de los inmigrantes en Wisconsin son de México y de América Latina
Hecho: Menos de 4 en 10 residentes extranjeros de Wisconsin vinieron en un principio de Sudamérica, Centroamérica, México o el Caribe.
Obtenga más hechos >>
EL PERIÓDICO
Lea la última edición
