Nebr. Gov. Dave Heineman: No benefits for illegal immigrants seeking work visas

LINCOLN — President Obama’s plan to allow work visas to some illegal immigrants won’t translate into their ability to obtain driver’s licenses in Nebraska.

Gov. Dave Heineman announced Friday that the state will continue its policies of denying driver’s licenses, as well as welfare benefits, to immigrants who are in the country illegally.

“They shouldn’t be here if they’re here illegally,” the governor told reporters at a press conference.

Heineman joins at least one other Republican governor, Jan Brewer of Arizona, in ordering that driver’s licenses and other state benefits not be allowed to those taking advantage of Obama’s new immigration policy.

Under the policy, which went into effect Wednesday, at least 1.2 million young undocumented immigrants, who were brought to the United States as young children and have no criminal background, are able to apply for a temporary stay of deportation and a work permit.

But that order created a quandary in Nebraska, which has a law barring driver’s licenses and other state benefits for immigrants in the country illegally.

“President Obama’s deferred action program to issue employment authorization documents to illegal immigrants does not make them legal citizens,” Heineman said.

“The State of Nebraska will continue its practice of not issuing driver’s licenses, welfare benefits or other public benefits to illegal immigrants unless specifically authorized by Nebraska statue.”

Unlike Heineman, Brewer issued an executive order barring the benefits, which the ACLU has said is illegal. The actions by the two governors come in contrast to the State of California, where the department of motor vehicles said it would issue drivers licenses to those receiving the new work permits.”

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120817/NEWS/708179901/1685#heineman-no-benefits-for-illegal-immigrants-seeking-work-visas