New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today issued the following statement about Governor Eliot Spitzer’s proposal to make driver’s licenses available to New Yorkers regardless of immigration status:

I applaud Governor Spitzer for his leadership on the issue of access to driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status. The Governor’s proposal is both responsible and reasonable.

Under current licensing policies, immigrants have been pushed out of the system for years. The proposed changes to grant licenses to undocumented immigrants will help ensure that our roads are safer particularly as they become insured drivers.

While some critics hastily dismiss the Governor’s proposal on the premise that its enactment will threaten national security, they ignore the plan’s anti-fraud measures that aim to fortify the licensing security process.

Further, the plan does not stand in conflict with the Real ID Act. The REAL ID Act’s requirements do not go into effect until May 2013. At that time when REAL ID’s travel restrictions go into effect, residents across the country have to get new, federally approved licenses. Compliance with REAL ID is voluntary and some states have already opted out of implementing the law.

It is unfortunate that we as a city, state and nation are witnessing an anti-immigrant backlash in which some roundly disregard the contributions that immigrants have made to our economies and our lives. New York City’s economy has improved significantly due to their energy, their vitality, and their hard work.

We should support any measure that strives to make this state – and our roads – a safer place.

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