Every time we turn on the news, we are reminded that – contrary to what some would have us believe – illegal immigration is NOT a victimless crime. It poses a true threat to our national security, our economy, and our very way of life. As the proud recipient of an A+ lifetime rating from the anti-amnesty group NumbersUSA, I’ve fought to confront this challenge head on.
In Congress, I co-wrote the SMART Border Act, legislation imposing tough, new border security standards. I authored an amendment passed by the House of Representatives to combat funding for sanctuary cities and, as a member of the House Border Security Caucus, I even traveled to the US-Mexico border so that I could meet with Customs and Border Patrol agents and survey our border security challenges with my own eyes.
Recently, some Tennesseans have come to me with questions about my views on illegal immigration, particularly as it pertains to granting drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. So today, I want you to know exactly where I stand.
I don’t support granting drivers licenses to illegal aliens, and my record proves it. But I’ve been around long enough to know how easy it is for political types to take a vote out of context or twist the intent of a bill for one’s own purposes. So here is the real story behind a vote of mine that’s been called into question:
Some 15 years ago, Tennessee became host to an influx of legal refugees from the nation from of Somalia, with the greatest concentration of refugees relocating to Bedford County. While I’ve often warned of the risks of mass refugee resettlement within the United States – and voted against continued funding for this broken system just last year – in this case, these individuals were already at our doorstep and it became my job to ensure that Tennesseans were protected.
This development created problems on our roadways, with unlicensed drivers putting citizens at risk. Law enforcement came to the state legislature and asked us to pass a bill ensuring that legal noncitizens in our state were required to take a test and learn the rules of the road just like everyone else. The resulting bill was SB3430, which passed the Tennessee state House in 2004.
The bill did not grant drivers licenses to illegal immigrants, and Section 2 of the bill clearly stated that its benefits could only apply to those “legally present in the United States.” Instead, it allowed noncitizens to apply for a driving certificate; one that was clearly labeled “FOR DRIVING PURPOSES ONLY. NOT VALID FOR IDENTIFICATION.” The legislation was the most conservative option available in a Democratic controlled legislature and, at the time of its passage, it was hailed as one of the toughest laws in the nation limiting illegal immigrants’ access to licenses.
In fact, when this bill came up for a vote, it received near unanimous support; passing by a vote of 32-0 in the Tennessee state senate and 96-2 in the state House. Republicans like Senator Mae Beavers, Representative Judd Matheny, and others joined me in honoring the requests of our law enforcement and supporting the bill.
As we all know, however, good bills can yield unintended consequences. Years after this legislation’s passage, it became clear that, despite the bill’s meticulous wording and conservative support, it still was susceptible to fraud and abuse. That’s why, in 2007, I voted to scrap the law from our books.
My position on illegal immigration has never changed. We have to secure our border, enforce our laws, combat sanctuary cities, and hold those who come here illegally accountable. On an issue as important as this, we have to get our facts straight. That’s why I wanted you to hear directly from me.
