On Tuesday, the Michigan House of Representatives passed another anti-immigrant measure—House Bill 6085 that will require individuals applying for a state driver’s license in Michigan to make a statement that they are a United States citizen. The bill comes a few weeks after the Michigan House passed a measure that will make English the official language of the state. Area representative Jerry Kooiman voted in favor of the bill in a 76 to 27 vote on Tuesday. In explaining their votes against the bill, Representatives Tobocman and Waters both criticized the “vagueness” of the bill and raised questions about how it would be enacted and forced, especially with regard to the question of whether or not Secretary of State employees and law enforcement officers would be obligated to enforce immigration law and determine the legal status of immigrants.
These concerns are similar to those raised by opponents of the bill outside of the legislature. While the bill was promoted as a way of ensuring Michigan’s compliance with the REAL ID Act passed by the federal government in 2005, there is no requirement under that legislation stating that states must place citizenship status on driver’s licenses and the real rationale behind the bill appears to be the stigmatization of those who are in the country without United States citizenship. By requiring a statement that applicants are US citizens and then placing the information on their driver’s license, the bill is setting up a two-tier system where licenses issued in the state will indicate whether one is a citizen or whether one is a “second-class” resident without citizenship as the implied status of a “non-citizen” would be less than that of a citizen. Through the collection of this information it will also encourage law enforcement officials and those working with the Secretary of State to look at individuals’ citizenship status and could alter how they interact with non-citizens, in addition to potentially obligating them to enforce immigration law with adequate training.
Supporters of the bill have also claimed that the inclusion of citizenship information on driver’s licenses will aide homeland security efforts and contribute to the “war on terror.” However, as the Michigan branch of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) pointed out, terrorists are unlikely to be deterred by the measure, citing the fact that if a person is able to plan a terrorist act that they will likely have no qualms about lying and stating that they are a citizen. As passed, the bill contains no additional checks to determine citizenship status and would instead simply perpetuate the notion that immigrants are connected to terrorism. Michigan’s citizenship measure is similar to other measures passed around the United States as states have tried to comply with the vague provisions of the REAL ID Act that dictate requirements for driver’s licenses.
The bill must go through the Senate before going to Governor Jennifer Granholm for approval.
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