Wednesday night the UCLA Student Workers Front held a forum to
educate students regarding the SB60 bill.
The bill, commonly referred to as the driver’s license
bill, was signed over the summer by former Gov. Gray Davis but is
currently being criticized by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Once SB60 goes into affect, it will allow all California
residents, regardless of their immigration status, to obtain a
driver’s license without a social security number. The only
document required to apply will be an individual taxpayer
identification number.
UCLA students and representatives from local organizations such
as the Los Angeles-based Instituto de Educacion Popular del Sur de
California shared personal struggles and emphasized the importance
for student awareness regarding this issue.
Francisco Lopez, a second-year psychobiology student and an
undocumented immigrant, averages a 25- to 40-hour work week to help
pay for tuition. Because of his immigration status, he cannot apply
for financial aid or scholarships. As a result of his work
schedule, he finds time to study on the bus and in between jobs and
classes.
“If I could drive, I would have a less hectic work
schedule and I would be able to purchase a car without the fear of
repossession,” Lopez said.
Susan Melgarojo, a first-year pre-optometry student and Peru
native, said this issue hits close to the UCLA community and
affects many students, including herself.
“This issue affects a variety of UCLA students, not just
Mexicans. I have to commute four hours a day just to attend school.
… If I could drive, it would only take a half hour,”
Melgarojo said.
Also present was Victor Narro from the UCLA Labor Center in
downtown Los Angeles. Narro, a strong advocate of SB60, believes
not allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for a driver’s
license is hypocritical.
“Immigrants contribute so much to the economy, yet they
have no benefits. It isn’t fair that they work and pay taxes
but they don’t have the ability to drive,” he said.
Narro also focused on the fact that since Sept. 11, 2001, the
issue has become a homeland security concern, and many of these
immigrants are being used as “scapegoats” for national
issues.
According to a recent poll, 70 percent of voters opposed the
bill.
Celestina Sanchez works at Ackerman Union preparing food for the
UCLA restaurants in addition to taking care of her two
children.
“We work eight to 12 hours a day: cooking, cleaning and
maintenance. … These things are not being taken into
account.”