Reject Fox’s Call for Change in Driver’s License Law

“Mexico Prods State on Driver’s Licenses” (Dec. 19) says, “President Vicente Fox called for restoration of a California law that would allow illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses.” Fox spoke during his annual visit to northern Mexico “to greet hundreds of thousands of migrants ... who are coming home from the United States to spend the holidays with family.”

Fox’s concerns notwithstanding, I wonder why most illegal immigrants would need a California driver’s license. By definition they are not legally residents of California. Consequently they must be legal residents of some other place -- wherever they go when they go home. A driver’s license from that place would likely allow them to drive here.

The California Vehicle Code provides at Section 12502(a): “The following persons may operate a motor vehicle in this state without obtaining a driver’s license under this code: (1) A nonresident over the age of 18 years having in his or her immediate possession a valid driver’s license issued by a foreign jurisdiction of which he or she is resident....”

Robert Noble

Santa Monica

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As an American of Mexican descent, I am outraged reading your article. My nephew was killed by an illegal alien from Mexico. Many criminal illegal aliens are still in this country operating freely. Millions of illegal aliens in California continue to crowd our schools, jails, hospitals and freeways.

Since California is experiencing serious fiscal crisis, I urge all political leaders to resist Mexico’s outrageous demand and to act responsibly. Illegal aliens across the board should be denied all benefits. The Bush administration should deport all those who are here illegally. There are plenty of poor Americans out of work. Let them take the jobs now being held by illegal aliens.

Lupe Moreno

Co-Founder

Latino Americans

for Immigration Reform

Santa Ana

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Perhaps Fox would be better advised to promote and develop opportunities for his own people in Mexico so that they could remain there and enjoy economic rewards for their hard work. Why is his seemingly only viable policy one that expects his neighbor, the good old USA, to make all the moves, to do the right thing? Talk about unilateralism!

Bette Mason

Los Angeles