(From left) Bloomington City Council President Sue Sgambelluri, Mayor's Chief of Staff Josefa Madrigal and La Voz Unida spokesman Ed Rodriguez.
(Lucas Gonzalez, WFIU/WTIU News)
The Bloomington City Council has joined a growing list of elected bodies across Indiana to express support for state legislation to create a pathway for undocumented immigrants to legally drive.
Eight council members present at the group’s Wednesday meeting all voted ‘yes’ to a resolution urging the state legislature to pass Senate Bill 248, which would make it possible for undocumented immigrants living in Indiana to obtain driving privilege cards.
Only council member Isabel Piedmont-Smith was not present for the vote.
Dozens filled the council chambers ahead to back the resolution, including many representatives of the Plymouth-based nonprofit group La Voz Unida, which has advocated for S.B. 248.
Members of the public fill the Bloomington City Council Chambers at a Wednesday meeting (Lucas Gonzalez, WFIU/WTIU News)
Ed Rodriguez, spokesman for La Voz Unida, said the group has tried to meet with several state senators but hasn’t always had success — so it sought support from local representatives instead.
“We found that legislators at some point tend to hide behind the word constituents — the constituents are saying this and saying that — but when we come to the leaders, we find that a resolution is a true symbol of support and advocacy that the city has,” Rodriguez said.
(From left) Josefa Madrigal and Ed Rodriguez (Lucas Gonzalez, WFIU/WTIU News)
Rodriguez said La Voz Unida has also approached representatives of cities including Anderson, Columbus, Frankfort, Kokomo and Muncie.
At least 13 other municipalities across the state have passed similar resolutions, according to Josefa Madrigal, chief of staff for the office of the mayor.
In providing background on the resolution — and by extension, S.B. 248 — Madrigal emphasized what the bill would not do if it were signed into law.
A driver’s card could not be used for anything besides driving privileges. So, it wouldn’t allow card holders to vote or have access to federal assistance; nor would it serve as verification of employment or legal residence.
Those interested in obtaining a card would have to apply for one. Prerequisites to obtain a card include proper training, certification and insurance.
Madrigal said that without being able to legally drive, undocumented immigrants are often unable to access essential needs such as food and health care.
“A driver’s card will ensure that all drivers on Indiana roads are trained,” Madrigal said. “In turn, it will reduce accidents, reduce premiums paid by licensed drivers and promote positive relations with law enforcement by reducing the fear of traffic stops and reducing leaving the scene of accidents.”
Josefa Madrigal (Lucas Gonzalez, WFIU/WTIU News)Caption
Fear of driving is a point Rodriguez also touched on.
“We’ve met thousands and thousands of families — particularly mothers — who are being pulled over by law enforcement and are being handcuffed in front of their children and taken away to jail simply because they don’t have a document and they’re driving,” Rodriguez said. “They need to drive.”
S.B. 248 has received bipartisan support in the statehouse and has been backed by law enforcement and local government leaders alike. Some lawmakers and members of the public have objected to giving driving privileges to people who did not follow federal immigration laws, however.
Sen. Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) spoke in support of the bill Wednesday, calling it a practical solution that would make driving safer for everyone.
“Individuals who qualify for a driver’s card are our colleagues, they’re our employees and they pay taxes,” Yoder said. “They are also trying to get to their jobs and trying to get their kids to school. It’s the right thing to do.”
Sen. Shelli Yoder (Lucas Gonzalez, WFIU/WTIU News)
There have been several similar efforts before in Indiana, but historically they’ve died in the state legislature. Yoder said that’s due in part to a misunderstanding of what a driver’s card would and would not allow.
“An initiative like La Voz Unida going community to community is a brilliant one,” Yoder said. “It’s a great strategy because it’s all about education and bringing light to good public policy. The biggest hurdle has been misinformation and fear, so shining light on it and talking about it addresses both of those.”
Yoder said she’s not surprised lawmakers from across the aisle have backed S.B. 248, saying, “good public policy tends to have bipartisan support.”
Progress on the bill stalled when it failed to advance through a Senate committee before a February deadline for action. Yoder said that means the process must essentially start over again from scratch — but she’s hopeful it can get done next year.
Several states, including neighboring Illinois, have approved similar driving cards in recent years.
