CAIR-NJ Action Alert: Tell NJ Lawmakers to Support Expanded Access to Drivers Licenses
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - 11/27/18) - The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) is calling on the New Jersey Muslim community to support the Assembly bill A4743 and the Senate bill S3229, which give all New Jerseyans access to a driver’s license regardless of their citizenship status.
In 2005, Congress passed the Real ID Act which sets out strict guidelines for all state issued I.D. to be accepted for federal purposes including entering federal buildings or boarding planes. Most state-issued IDs are not compatible with the Real ID act, and therefore states around the country have passed laws to make their licenses and IDs compliant with the Real ID Act.
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) is set to implement the Real ID Act in New Jersey in 2019 by issuing a new license for Real ID Act purposes.
Since its inception, the Real ID Act has raised issues of privacy and access, with many in vulnerable communities facing increasing barriers to being able to get a driver’s license and state ID. Additionally, many residents have concerns that their personal documents will be scanned and entered into a government database as it is required for REAL ID Act compliance. This issue is particularly important for the undocumented community who are facing the harshest anti-immigrant environment in the last several decades.
However, though the Real ID Act has stringent requirements, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security does allow states to continue issuing limited licenses and ID cards as alternatives to the licenses for REAL ID Act purposes. These IDs however can only be used in-state and would not allow individuals access to federal buildings or to air travel.
Bill A4743 & S3229 will ensure that the NJ MVC can also issue a limited, alternative driver’s license option allowing qualified residents to be able to access a license and identification card.
“Every New Jersey resident should be able to have access to a driver’s license or state-issued ID,” said CAIR-NJ Legislative Director Jay Rehman. “This bill will give members of many of the most vulnerable communities -- who may not have access to required documents to obtain a Real ID -- the ability to obtain a New Jersey identification card.”
CAIR-NJ has joined the Let’s Drive New Jersey campaign in their support of this bill.
SEE: https://www.letsdrivenj.org/
CAIR-NJ is a chapter of America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialog, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Legislative Director, Jay Rehman, 908.668.5900, jrehman@cair.com
CAIR-NJ Action Alert: Tell NJ Lawmakers to Support Expanded Access to Drivers Licenses
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - 11/27/18) - The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) is calling on the New Jersey Muslim community to support the Assembly bill A4743 and the Senate bill S3229, which give all New Jerseyans access to a driver’s license regardless of their citizenship status.
In 2005, Congress passed the Real ID Act which sets out strict guidelines for all state issued I.D. to be accepted for federal purposes including entering federal buildings or boarding planes. Most state-issued IDs are not compatible with the Real ID act, and therefore states around the country have passed laws to make their licenses and IDs compliant with the Real ID Act.
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) is set to implement the Real ID Act in New Jersey in 2019 by issuing a new license for Real ID Act purposes.
Since its inception, the Real ID Act has raised issues of privacy and access, with many in vulnerable communities facing increasing barriers to being able to get a driver’s license and state ID. Additionally, many residents have concerns that their personal documents will be scanned and entered into a government database as it is required for REAL ID Act compliance. This issue is particularly important for the undocumented community who are facing the harshest anti-immigrant environment in the last several decades.
However, though the Real ID Act has stringent requirements, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security does allow states to continue issuing limited licenses and ID cards as alternatives to the licenses for REAL ID Act purposes. These IDs however can only be used in-state and would not allow individuals access to federal buildings or to air travel.
Bill A4743 & S3229 will ensure that the NJ MVC can also issue a limited, alternative driver’s license option allowing qualified residents to be able to access a license and identification card.
“Every New Jersey resident should be able to have access to a driver’s license or state-issued ID,” said CAIR-NJ Legislative Director Jay Rehman. “This bill will give members of many of the most vulnerable communities -- who may not have access to required documents to obtain a Real ID -- the ability to obtain a New Jersey identification card.”
CAIR-NJ has joined the Let’s Drive New Jersey campaign in their support of this bill.
SEE: https://www.letsdrivenj.org/
CAIR-NJ is a chapter of America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialog, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Legislative Director, Jay Rehman, 908.668.5900, jrehman@cair.com