Farm workers support drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants

By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press Writer

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) Farm workers throughout the San Joaquin Valley and along the Central Coast have launched a weeklong campaign of marches and protests to generate support for legislation that would grant drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Some 500 people kicked off the campaign Tuesday with a march through downtown Earlimart, a small, predominantly Hispanic farming community about 40 miles north of Bakersfield.

More United Farm Workers-led rallies are planned in Tulare, Kern, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties through the weekend.

``We want to send a very strong message that the community is in support of strong legislation for undocumented residents to obtain drivers licenses, which is going to make our roads safer,'' UFW Vice President Lupe Martinez said Wednesday.

Gov. Gray Davis vetoed a version of the bill last year, but has recently said he would sign the latest legislation. Passage of the bill could help draw Hispanic voters to support Davis as he struggles to fend off the recall.

The Legislature is set to reconvene Monday.

Proponents of the bill written by state Sen. Gilbert Cedillo, D-Los Angeles say giving drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants will help them receive training and secure car insurance. The legislation has already been approved by the Senate.

Under current law, the Department of Motor Vehicles cannot issue a license without a Social Security number.

``They're on the roads, they're driving to work,'' Martinez said. ``These are the people who are harvesting our food, working at restaurants and hotels. They're traveling a lot but the problem is a lot of them are probably driving without drivers licenses or insurance.''

Martinez said many farm workers pay as much $18 dollars a day for rides to work with other workers ``who probably don't have drivers licenses, either.''

Barbara Coe, chairwoman of the California Coalition for Immigration Reform, said immigrants should be required to follow the current laws.

``We are obviously strongly opposed,'' Coe said of the bill. ``It is an absolute betrayal to legal immigrants who have come here the right way, as well as citizens.''

Tulare County Supervisor Lali Moheno said the legislation is a good idea, but that there must be restrictions.

``To me, I think it's just common sense,'' Moheno said. ``But there must be controls. We need to know who these people are. It shouldn't just be automatic for all undocumented immigrants.''

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)