MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors on Thursday, March 21 adopted (14-2) a proposal from Supervisor Sylvia Ortiz-Velez to endorse portions of Governor Tony Evers' budget that would restore full access to driver's licenses for all Wisconsin residents, regardless of immigration status.
Supervisor Ortiz-Velez stressed the safety benefits of expanding access to driver's licenses.
"Expanding access to driver's licenses will make the roads safer for everyone. When California, New Mexico, and Utah allowed undocumented immigrants to have access to driver's licenses it increased the number of insured vehicles on the roads, helped to reduce the number of accidents, and assisted law enforcement's ability to respond to accidents because individuals who were involved stayed on the scene. I want to thank my constituents and member of the community who spoke out on this issue, especially Christine Neuman-Ortiz and the members of Voces de la Frontera," said Ortiz-Velez in a news release.
According to the release, the adopted resolution states that removing restrictions to driver's license access would:
The adopted resolution would be forwarded to the offices of Governor Tony Evers, Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes.
Officials with Voces de la Frontera, an immigrant advocacy organization, issued this statement: