MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Clerk is pushing back against a bill that would effectively grant illegal immigrants access to driver’s licenses.
County Clerk Larry Barmore said if the Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act, better known as the Green Light Bill, passes, undocumented immigrants will be able to apply to NYS driver’s license.
“Any person, regardless of immigration status can obtain a driver’s license by showing a birth certificate or passport from any one of 195 countries around the world,” said Barmore. “This will require our DMV employees to become educated in what these documents look like.”
“I can imagine rampant forging of these documents by those looking to make a few dollars.”
The bill is currently before the New York State Senate and Assembly. Those in support off this act argue that it will allow undocumented workers to legally drive to their places of employment.
Barmore is just one of many clerks who have taken a stand against the bill.
“All of the County Clerks in the western district have taken a stand against this legislation as well as many clerks outside of our district but the legislators do not seem to care,” said Barmore. “As hard-working taxpayers, I am asking you to take a stand with me and oppose this bill.”
Barmore said he will not allow the DMV offices to change the way they issue licenses. He plans to still require six points of identification including a social security card.
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