Immigrants lacking papers work legally — as their own bosses | Hacker News Reader

Immigrants lacking papers work legally — as their own bosses

latimes.com

7 pointsnull_ptr8 comments

I feel it's completely bogus to deny a drivers license based on immigration status. A drivers license asserts driving privileges and identity. It should not be expected to assert legal status - that's what other documents are for (passport, green card, birth certificate).

But how do you prove your identity?

Proving your identity and proving your right of residence are two entirely different things. Anyway, the question is now moot in CA, where the legislature just last week voted to approve issuance of driving licenses.

I understand, but, if a driver's license is proof of identity, surely you need some supporting proof to obtain a driver's license, e.g. a birth certificate. How do you do that if you don't have one?

You probably do have such a thing, why are you assuming the contrary? 'Undocumented' doesn't mean lacking any identification documents whatsoever, it means lacking the documents that allow residency and employment in the US.

Okay, what such documents would an illegal immigrant have that are suitable to obtain a driver's license, i.e. a proof of identity?

In 2003, a friend of mine started a Spanish Real Estate magazine, in Southern California. Was paying himself ~25,000 per month. He hired Americans to design, distribute, and print his magazines.

Not bad for an uneducated, undocumented worker, who at 10 years old was homeless, and selling oranges at the rodeo in Mexico City.

Immigrants start businesses, and create jobs.

Immigrants are more likely to become a millionaire in the USA than 2nd or 3rd......generation Americans.

https://www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/stanley-millionaire.ht...

The headline is in error. This article was submitted earlier,

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6390605

and is being discussed on the front page.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com