COLUMBUS, Ohio -
A
couple of state lawmakers are taking up the cause of young Ohio immigrants who
are being denied an Ohio drivers license. The lawmakers will introduce
legislation that would require the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles to issue
licenses to eligible individuals approved by Homeland Security for the Deferred
Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
DACA
participants are granted a temporary work authorization card and a temporary
social security card. But their ability to obtain an Ohio drivers license has
been dependent upon the whims of the particular licensing bureau they go to or
the particular clerk who reviews their application.
Some
have been granted a license. Jose Mendez was not.
"Even though I have all
the proper documents, the BMV refused to accept them," Mendez said. "Adding
insult to injury the office manager yelled across the room that I should just
go back home and that I didn't belong here."
Sen.
Charletta Tavares of Columbus and Senate Minority Leader Eric Kearney will
introduce legislation on Tuesday that would require the BMV to issue driver's
licenses to eligible DACA participants. The two Democrats say they already have
the support of Republican Sen. Peggy Lehner of Kettering.
The
BMV confirmed Monday that for now, it is leaving the decision of whether to
issue licenses to DACA participants to the 190 individual license bureaus. A
BMV spokesman says the issue remains under review and that a decision is
expected soon.
Tavares
said the state needs a uniform policy.
"We believe if they're not
going to do it we have to step up, speak up on behalf of our
constituents," Tavares said. "We believe that as a state there
should be consistency and uniformity so that all of our residents are treated
the same."
