Oregonians will vote this fall on whether its residents should be able to apply for driver’s licenses regardless of their immigration status. Supporters of the measure kicked off their campaign Monday.
The bill that is now Measure 88 was originally signed into law by Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber in May 2013. But opponents collected enough signatures to put the issue to a statewide vote. They say someone living in the country illegally should not be able to get a driver's license.
Supporters say it's a matter of safety. They say it would allow all drivers to be tested and carry insurance.
For Yanely Rivas, it's a personal issue. She said one of her relatives returned to Mexico after he couldn’t find a way to get to work every day.
“It’s really important,” Rivas said. “People need to be able to drive to work. People need to be able to drive their kids to school and making sure they’re making appointments.”
If passed, the measure would create something called a "driver card." It would allow driving privileges but could not be used as ID to board an airplane.
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