Colorado's law to provide undocumented immigrants with driver's licenses takes effect today, reports Politico. It is playing out against the backdrop of heightened attention to the issue in light of the crisis on the Texas border. The law's supporters say it will make the roads safer and provide legal recognition for thousands of undocumented immigrants who have lived and paid taxes in the state for years. They say it's a far less ideal scenario than Congress passing comprehensive immigration reform.
“Ignoring the reality that we are working with a completely broken immigration system does no one any good,” said Democratic state Sen. Jessie Ulibarri, who sponsored the license bill. “Because of their inaction, we are stuck with the patchwork of state laws.” The law's opponents believe it will only encourage more undocumented immigrants to migrate to the U.S. “We consider the Colorado state legislature and the Colorado governor to be partly responsible for the surge on the border,” said Roy Beck of NumbersUSA, which believes in reduced immigration. He and other opponents say the law provides “enticements” to undocumented immigrants and the false impression that the U.S. will accept them.