Illegal Immigrants may soon be able to apply for a driver’s permit.
The Wichita City Council and local leaders reviewed a proposed 2015 Kansas Legislative Agenda on Tuesday.
Then, they discussed the importance of giving illegal immigrant workers a chance to learn how to drive safely.
“They are in fear of going to and from work, to going to church, taking their kids to school,” said State Representative Ponka-We Victors. “Some of the anti-immigration bills that were going to round up everybody and send them back — we can’t. We don’t have the financial resources to do that as a state.”
WHAT THE PERMIT DOES
Yet, some argue the proposal could lead to important changes on a local level. It would allow illegal immigrants to obtain a driver’s permit, get to-and-from work and apply for insurance. It would not allow a person to vote, board a plane or enter federal buildings.
POTENTIAL SAFETY BENEFITS
Some council members say it encourages immigrants to learn driving responsibly. Mayor Carl Brewer said this weekend, it’s believed a driver of a hit-and-run accident was an illegal immigrant. He believes if that person had a permit, perhaps they would have stayed at the scene.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Setting aside how anybody feels about immigration, this has an upside to those of us who drive on the road and have our own insurance. According to the Immigration Policy Center, unauthorized immigrants represent more than 3 percent of the Kansas workforce. Kansas would lose $1.8 billion economically and 11,879 jobs if those workers were removed.
“Whether it be agriculture, which is certainly one of the economic legs for the City of Wichita and also the construction field, those particular areas have individuals that need some type of permit or driver’s license to be able to drive their trucks,” Brewer said. “Ok, they’re citizens. Let’s go ahead and address the issue and we treat everyone the exact same and everyone continue on with their lives until the federal government gets their portion figured out.”
City Council members will address the Kansas Legislative Agenda at its meeting next Tuesday.