Milwaukee Mayor To Keep Current Practice To Provide Licenses To Business Applicants

More than 2,000 people marched for immigration reform, state driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants, and to protest the proposed City of Milwaukee citizenship requirement for professional or commercial licenses or permits

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 10, 2009

Milwaukee - Immigration reform march organizers released a statement from Mayor Tom Barrett during a rally held at Mitchell Park earlier today saying the mayor will keep the current practice to provide professional licenses to applicants. Mayor Barrett on Friday wrote, "The regulation of immigration is exclusively a federal power, and the City of Milwaukee is not the appropriate jurisdiction to enforce the 1996 law enacted by the federal government. The City currently provides licensing services that support business operations, are efficient and provide adequate protections for the public. It is my intention that these services will continue to be provided to the public in the future as they are today." Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera read Barrett's statement to those attending Saturday's rally.

Rally participants cheered and celebrated Barrett's decision to keep Milwaukee from supporting anti-immigrant policies that would create division among Milwaukeans. More than 2,000 people marched for immigration reform, state driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants, and to protest the proposed City of Milwaukee citizenship requirement for professional or commercial licenses or permits. March organizers are currently collecting signatures from voters in State Senator Tim Carpenter's district in support of driver's cards (licenses) for undocumented immigrants.

On September 29, the Licenses Committee members unanimously decided to postponed a proposed ordinance (090411) that would require proof of U.S. citizenship and legal alien status to obtain a professional or commercial licenses or permits in the City of Milwaukee. The ordinance would have required new applicants and those applying for renewal to prove their legal status in the country. City Attorney Grant F. Langley proposed the citizenship ordinance to comply with the U.S. Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
Ald. Tony Zielinski moved for the proposed ordinance to be placed on hold to give various community groups, and constituents more time to review the proposal and to comment on it. The committee agreed and voted to postpone the measure.

Milw., WI: Legistar posted video on line of Licenses Committee Sept. 29 hearing of citizenship ordinance 090411 requiring legal status in the country for issuance of professional or commercial licenses or permits, click the following link and then on video http://bit.ly/YywZO

City Wide Dream Act Campaign Initiated In Milwaukee

VDLF also campaigns to get thousands of registered voters to support driver licenses for undocumented workers

By H. Nelson Goodson
September 26, 2009

Milwaukee- Last Wednesday, September 23, an estimated 60 college and high school students gathered at the offices of Voces de la Frontera (VDLF), 1027 S. 5th St. in support of the national effort to pass the Dream Act. A city wide DREAM Act campaign kick off party event with Miss Mexican Fiesta, Erica Hernandez and information about the DREAM Act was provided at VDLF.
Youths enrolled in high schools and colleges from around the country held simultaneous actions in support of the Dream Act, which provides an immigration bill that would create a path to citizenship for undocumented students.
"Each year, more than 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school, but because they lack immigration status, these students face uncertain futures," Melanie Benesh, Youth Organizer for VDLF wrote on a press release. In partnership with the United We Dream Network, a national volunteer led network of undocumented students and supporters like the Students United for Immigrant Rights (SUFRIR) a the youth chapter affiliated with Voces de la Frontera have organized a postcard drive at several local high schools and Universities, according to Benesh.
VDLF is also working on a community project regarding the Driver's Card. VDLF volunteers are contacting registered voters in the South side in order to gain support for the passage of Driver Licenses for undocumented workers in the State of Wisconsin. VDLF expects to raise at least 5,000 signatures of registered voters in support of driver licenses for the undocumented, according to organizers.
Last Year, Governor Jim Doyle removed more than 21 million dollars collected from renewal of state licenses earmarked to finance the Real ID Act. Doyle transferred the money to another account and the State of Wisconsin is not expected to implement the Real ID Act. Immigration rights activists say that since there is no longer any money for the State Department of Motor Vehicles to implement the Real ID Act, it should be repealed by state legislators in Wisconsin.
Voces de la Frontera announced a march and rally for Immigration Reform will take place on October 10th, as a national day of action. March organizers say people are expected to gather in front of Voces office at about 11:00 a.m. and shortly after begin marching accross the 6th St. Viaduct ending at Zeidler Park on 4th and Michigan.