Leading Asian American chambers, civic and nonprofit groups sign Value Georgia to urge more reasoned discussion on immigration | AALAC
WABE: Inmigrant Advocates Oppose English-Only Driver’s License Bill (2011-02-03)
WABE: Inmigrant Advocates Oppose English-Only Driver’s License Bill (2011-02-03).
AUDIO REPORT AT: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wabe/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1757769/Atlanta./Inmigrant.Advocates.Oppose.English-Only.Driver%27s.License.Bill
ATLANTA, GA (WABE) – Right now to get a driver’s license, you can take the written test in 14 languages, including English. The signage portion of the written test and the driving test are in English. A house bill proposes giving the examinations only in English. Representative Pedro Marin from Gwinnett says the bill limits legal immigrants from getting to work.
“When people move to Georgia, they [need to] be able to get that right to drive right away, because we need you guys to be competitive. We need you guys to be productive.”
Helen Kim Ho of the Asian American Legal Advocacy Center describes an e-mail exchange she had with Representative James Mills, one of the bill’s co-sponsors.
“If your reason for this bill is public safety, explain to me why do you provide an exception for illiterate people that could not read or write in any language. He did not give me an answer.”
Neither of the bill’s co-sponsors Representatives James Mills of Gainesville nor Tim Bearden of Carroll and Douglas Counties responded by deadline.
