September 26, 2012
The Honorable Janice K. Brewer
Arizona Governor
Executive Tower
1700 West Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Dear Governor Brewer:
Just like
you, I’m also an overachiever. I would
imagine that very few expected that you would ever become the Governor of the
great state of Arizona. Similarly,
against all odds, I graduated from law school and I am now a licensed attorney
in Arizona. But this letter is not about
either of us. In fact, this letter is
about a group of achievers who want to have the opportunity to better
society. Yes, I’m talking about your
favorite group of achievers: DREAMers.
On August
15, 2012, you issued an Executive Order which barred those individuals eligible
for Deferred Action (DACA) from obtaining driver’s licenses or other state
benefits. After a fiscal analysis, I can
only conclude that this decision was based upon your personal vendetta against
President Barack Obama. Besides having
no basis in federal or state law to issue this executive order, your policy
will cost the state and businesses millions of dollars.
Had you, or
your advisers, conducted an unbiased cost-benefit analysis, you would have
likely concluded that this program will have a profoundly positive impact on a
number of industries in our state, along with making our streets safer and
saving Arizona resident’s money. Before
I go any further, I must confess that I am no economist and my calculations may
be considered rudimentary to some, but it will definitely make sense to you.
Let’s start
from the basics: There is an estimated 50,000-80,000 individuals in Arizona who
will qualify for DACA. A driver’s
license for applicants age 16-39 is $25.00.
Using the low-end estimate of individuals, which would mean the state is
bound to earn $1.25 million in driver license fees. Let me add that these individuals will only
get work permission from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for two
years and then have to apply for renewals.
That means the state will collect $1.25 million, or more, every two
years!
In order to
qualify for work permission under DACA, all applicants will have to undergo a
strict vetting process by DHS.
Candidates who will qualify must undergo background checks, been
physically present in the United States for at least five years, and provide
clear evidence that they have either completed high school or are currently in
school. Many have already taken college
courses or completed their post-secondary schooling. Therefore, we are talking about a class of individuals
that are educated and will provide a benefit to the lagging Arizona
economy. Rather than taking jobs from
U.S. citizens, they will help expand the growth of businesses and spend their
hard-earned money in the state.
Who else is
bound to gain from the issuance of drivers licenses to DACA grantees? Insurances companies, car dealers, gas
stations, automotive service stations, car washes, and pretty much any business
that is not near a bus stop. Arizona is
not exactly known for its excellent public transportation systems. Therefore, getting from point A to point B
can be difficult without an automobile.
According to the Insurance Research Council (IRC), one in eight Arizona
drivers are uninsured. According to IRC,
Arizona has the fifth highest percentage of uninsured motorists at 22% of the
population. Insurance companies are
bound to gain more customers and benefit their businesses when new drivers can
either lease or purchase cars. There
will be a trickle-down benefit to gas stations, tire and brake repair, and many
other related industries.
The
economic benefits to this program are considerable and I have attached a report
from the Immigration Policy Center, American Immigration Council, which
provides raw
data of these benefits. This
includes tax benefits, expansion of investments, more spending and an increased
incentive to fulfill educational goals.
Nobody loses from this program and the state is missing a golden
opportunity. This program only helps a
narrow group of persons and, contrary to what you believe, will not be a magnet
for others to enter the country without documentation.
Assuming
you have made it to this point in my letter and your eyes are not completely
glazed over, I want to make a final legal point. There is no doubt that the state is bound to
lose money in litigation costs, and ultimately will lose in the courts, as the
policy conflicts with state law and the federal REAL ID Act. More wasted money on behalf of taxpayers,
more image problems and less tourism.
Just like you, I am stubborn. However, I recognize that in order to
function in society we must compromise, and sometimes make decisions that are
against our core beliefs. I believe that
your advisors are misleading you on the issue of immigration and particularly
in the benefits of this DACA program.
The benefits of this program to our state far outweigh the costs that we
will incur if your executive order remains in place. Therefore, with the utmost respect, I ask
that you lift this executive order and allow the economic boon that this
program will bring to our state to become a reality.
Thank you and God bless America.
