SYRACUSE – In the latest blow to Gov. Spitzer‘s plan to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, New York state’s sheriffs yesterday came out strongly against the program and asked the governor to go back to the drawing board.
The statewide Sheriffs’ Association took the formal position shortly after Spitzer’s homeland-security director, Michael Balboni, tried – and failed – to sell the measure to the group as an upgrade in state and national security.
“We respect and support the governor’s efforts to strengthen security in New York and the nation,” the Sheriffs’ Association said in a statement following the vote behind closed doors.
“However, we do not feel that providing a driver’s license to illegal immigrants is appropriate and, as an association, we do not support that program.”
After weeks of widespread criticism, Spitzer on Saturday backed off his plan to provide illegal aliens the same licenses as everyone else, announcing a deal with U.S. Homeland Security to create three kinds of driver’s licenses.
Two would meet tougher federal standards, while the third would be available to illegal immigrants.
The sheriffs’ blast came after another law-enforcement authority, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, said Spitzer’s revised plan for illegal aliens was still a bad idea.
“Our position is that we do not endorse anything that’s going to make or facilitate their ability to operate while they’re here illegally,” Chertoff said on Saturday.
Upset that Spitzer had not sought any advance input into his plan, the sheriffs called for the creation of a task force that would include sheriffs and others from the law-enforcement community “to develop a policy that is sound and acceptable for New York citizens.”
“We ask the governor to rethink this proposal,” the association said.
During his 45-minute talk before the association, Balboni acknowledged that the Spitzer administration did a “lousy rollout” of the plan, after sheriffs complained that governor was trying to ram it through.
But he said Spitzer is unlikely to go back on his campaign promise to allow driver’s licenses for illegal aliens, telling the sheriffs they are better off offering suggestions on how to improve the plan.
“We are never going to get agreement on immigration policy – the point here is security,” Balboni told the sheriffs.
The sheriffs weren’t buying Balboni’s argument that licensing illegal aliens will help law enforcement more easily find people.
One sheriff noted that illegal aliens often move, leaving the addresses on their licenses useless.
Other sheriffs believe law enforcement shouldn’t be turning a blind eye to people breaking the law.
“When you allow people you know are lawbreakers to be legitimized with a New York license, what kind of example are you setting?” Livingston County Sheriff John York asked.
Spitzer aides announced on Saturday that the State Police chiefs and the State Police troopers union support the new plan.