Lawmaker Blasts School District Over Undocumented License Issue

RACINE, WI -- A school district in southeastern Wisconsin is advocating for a change in state law to allow Undocumented Citizens the ability to obtain driver's licenses - and a State Senator is blasting them for it.

According to media reports, the Racine Unified School District board passed a resolution by a 4 to 3 vote in support of urging a regional lobbying group to pressure the state legislature to advocate for the change.

In the Journal Times, supporters of the district's resolution said "a change in state law would help to improve student attendance as well as increase family engagement and opportunities available to students." Opponents questioned why the school district, of all agencies, is weighing in on this issue.

Meanwhile, State Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) is blasting district board members for their stance.

“It’s no wonder RUSD consistently underperforms when the Board addresses issues like driver’s licenses rather than the real challenges facing the district.” Wanggaard said. “Giving illegal aliens driver’s licenses will not improve one test score, or make one student pay attention in class. Unbelievably, the school board wastes time and resources on that rather than address the problems in the classroom that teachers face every day.”

Wisconsin statewide immigrant rights advocacy organization Voces de la Frontera is behind the push to convince lawmakers to allow undocumented citizens access to driver's licenses.

Christine Neumann-Ortiz of Voces de la Frontera said that undocumented citizens used to have access to driver’s licenses. A federal law enacted in 2007 barred undocumented citizens access to licenses. Additionally, state law prevents those without a Social Security number from getting a driver’s license, she said.

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