Bolinsky Denounces Bill To Give Illegals CT Drivers’ Licenses

HARTFORD- In a debate that started after most residents went to bed, the Democratic majority initiated debate on a bill which would require the State Department of Motor Vehicles to issue valid Connecticut driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants who reside in the state in violation of federal immigration laws according to State Rep. Mitch Bolinsky (R-106).

The legislation, which was put before the chamber with practically no opportunity for advance review, would, in the dead of night, bestow legal rights to a population that has illegally entered the United States. In fact, the proposal actually holds undocumented residents to a lower standard of proof of residency than that used by the DMV for the issuance of youth learner’s permits and graduated driver’s licenses to documented, legal residents.

The measure did not go through normal legislative process and did not pass through a single legislative committee. Among the failings of the legislation is an alarming absence of a mechanism for validating an individual’s country of origin, or where they resided prior to arriving in Connecticut. Because of its failure to require out-of-state or international background checks, its unprecedented reliance on unverifiable documents such as emails as “acceptable” forms of proof of residence and its easy-to-meet requirement of just 90-days of in-state residency, Bolinsky fears this may ultimately become an incentive for unlicensed, undocumented and out-of-state felons to flock to the state.

Bolinsky raised several concerns with the proposal and was among dozens of speakers in support of an amendment for further study of the proposal that would not delay its proposed implementation. Despite compelling and compassionate arguments on the amendment, it was defeated along party lines despite his and other impassioned pleas for bi-partisan consideration and cooperation.

Ultimately, Rep. Bolinsky concluded by expressing concerns that giving undocumented residents driver’s licenses would cause “confusion” and perhaps open the door to the possibility of, among other things, voter fraud and employment fraud. With wide-ranging estimates of 50,000- 250,000 undocumented individuals who might be made eligible for a state driver’s license under this legislation and Connecticut then being the only Eastern state to enact such a law, our state would instantly become a magnet for the undocumented from across the country, seeking to obtain documentation which would convey legitimacy upon them.

“The issue of illegal and legal immigration should be addressed at the federal level completely, and then Connecticut can comply with any new standards. Connecticut should not act to preempt federal law,” said Bolinsky.