Moral, practical reasons highlight driver’s license effort for undocumented immigrants

When Kathy Quandt heard a young woman speak about temporarily losing protections against deportation as well as her driver’s license — and fearing separation from her U.S.-born daughter if she were pulled over for any reason by police — Quandt knew she had to do something to help.

“That seemed pretty sad to me, if that happened,” said Quandt, a member of Our Lady of the Lake in Mound, who was among participants April 15 at Catholics at the Capitol, the Minnesota Catholic Conference’s online advocacy day, as she reflected on speaker Alejandra Chavez-Rivas’ experience. “I think it’s very important to take action on these things that are important moral issues.”

Quandt, 59, decided to use information provided by the MCC to lead a Zoom meeting with several other Catholics at the Capitol attendees to discuss a bill with their local lawmaker that would let undocumented immigrants apply for a driver’s license without proof of citizenship. That bill is HF 1163, “Driver’s Licenses for All,” sponsored by House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler of Golden Valley. And it is one of the MCC’s top priorities as the legislative session draws to an expected close May 17.

Ryan Hamilton, MCC’s government relations associate, said he and others are “reaching out to as many senators as possible to explain our side of this,” which includes ensuring that undocumented immigrants have the right to earn a license by knowing the rules of the road while meeting basic needs such as going to work, school and shopping. Broader issues of immigration reform need to be addressed by Congress, he said.

HF 1163 is now Article 4 in the House version of the transportation omnibus bill, and it is a priority for Democrats who control the House as the House and Senate versions are reconciled in committee, Hamilton said. It is not necessarily a priority for Republicans, who hold the majority in the Senate, he said. At this stage in deliberations, Catholics should call their local lawmakers to persuade legislators in both chambers, particularly Senate Republicans, to back the driver’s license initiative, he said.

“Call, and try to have a conversation with your legislator,” Hamilton said. “Especially if your legislator is a Senate Republican.”

The MCC represents the public policy interests of the Catholic Church in Minnesota, and “Driver’s Licenses for All” has been a high priority for the state’s bishops. It was among bills highlighted at the Catholics at the Capitol event, and Archbishop Bernard Hebda testified on the bill in February before the Minnesota House Judiciary, Finance and Law Committee.

In February 2019, the archbishop joined immigrants, lawmakers, business and law enforcement representatives at a news conference at the State Capitol advocating for the legislation. The archbishop said it was a “moral imperative” in the face of a broken, federal immigration system because undocumented immigrants already living, going to school and working in the United States need to take care of their families and feel secure.

Chavez-Rivas told The Catholic Spirit that since her experience in 2018 of losing and then regaining her protected status under DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, she has graduated from the University of St. Thomas with bachelor’s degrees in Catholic Studies and business, is a member of St. Henry in Monticello and works as a benefits analyst at a commercial insurance broker. Her daughter, Daniela, is 12 and a student at St. Agnes School in St. Paul.

She was determined to graduate from college, make a living and show her daughter what can be done, said Chavez-Rivas, 31.

“I wanted to set an example,” she said.