It’s taken years of pressure, but legislation that will allow undocumented immigrants in New Jersey to apply for driver’s licenses passed a key committee vote in the state assembly on Monday. Should it pass the full chamber—a final vote could come within the next few days—it’ll be a hard-fought victory for advocates, who secured the bill’s passage in the Assembly Judiciary Committee this week by sharing their personal stories with legislators.
“Some immigrants who testified said having a license would allow them to drive their children to school, go to work and attend doctor appointments,” NorthJersey.com reported. Among the family members testifying was Elizabeth resident Tatiana Rodriguez, who said that not being able to drive legally prevented her from doing things that many take for granted. “I have a six-year-old boy who asks me every day why I can’t drive him to school,” she said, “why we can’t drive to his doctors appointments, why I cannot be behind the wheel to take him to his soccer games.”
It’s because for undocumented families, a risk to driving without a license is getting pulled over for something as minor as a broken taillight, only to be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and separated. While a license is certainly no complete guarantee against this, it can nevertheless bring some important security to the estimated 338,000 undocumented residents who would be eligible to apply for a license in the state.
NorthJersey.com reported that some Republican legislators had nothing but voter fraud tropes to offer in opposition to the bill, when in reality this legislation would be to the benefit of all New Jersey residents regardless of immigration status. More people would be insured, and roads are safer when fewer unlicensed drivers are behind the wheel, not to mention the estimated $21 million in revenue the state stands to bring in through the licensing process, according to a New Jersey Policy Perspective analysis.
Should the legislation pass the legislature and be signed into law by Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy—something fully expected, should the bill get to his desk—New Jersey would join 14 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico in allowing undocumented immigrants to drive. "It's a no-brainer,'' Murphy said earlier this year. "I'm frustrated that it's not on my desk. I encourage you to call your assemblyperson, your senator, and ask him why it is stuck and not on the governor's desk, because I will sign it."
“We know this legislation will change thousands of lives in the Garden State, a state with both urban, suburban and rural communities that require residents to drive a car to get from point A to point B," Assemblywoman Annette Quijano said during the vote this week. “We have heard over the course of two years residents and advocates raise their voices in favor of this legislation. I want to say clearly that we heard you.”