Given the daily fears ICE is creating for many of us, it is more important than ever to support immigrants who are lawfully residing in our state. One way to accomplish this is for our elected state representatives to pass House Bill 1518 presented last spring (see drivingpaforward.org).
This legislation is just as important for road safety as putting our cellphones down. The bill would permit immigrants working in our state to obtain a non-real ID driver’s license. Almost 8% of Pennsylvania residents are immigrants. Preventing this group of residents’ access in obtaining a non-real ID driver’s license puts all of us at risk with uninsured drivers on the road. Besides increasing state revenue from the fees collected with passage of HB 1518, the bill would add protections for all Pennsylvania driver data security. All residents in our state should feel safe driving and have legal identification that is safeguarded.
Kathleen Dobbin
Greensburg