Cardinal Roger Mahony has requested a meeting with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to discuss new legislation granting California driver's licenses to residents who are not legal citizens.

Legislation affording undocumented citizens the right to obtain state driver's licenses was passed last year, but was then repealed by Gov. Schwarzenegger after he was elected in a November recall election.

"It is essential that we face the reality: our streets and freeways will be far safer if every California driver is educated in the driving laws of the state, has passed the necessary driving tests, is insured, and abides by our state's driving laws," Cardinal Mahony asserted in a June 23 letter to the governor. "We all benefit from these positive steps, but we are all diminished when such efforts are not put in place."

Security concerns were frequently cited by opponents of the original legislation. New legislation --- SB 1160, by Sen. Gil Cedillo of Los Angeles (author of the original bill) --- passed the Senate Transportation Committee June 16. SB 1160 contains several security requirements, including fingerprint checks, a birth certificate from the applicant's home country and proof of address.

Cardinal Mahony said he "fully" supports background checks and security investigations. But, he added, "any effort to create a separate and distinguishable California driver's license for such residents would be unwelcome." Gov. Schwarzenegger has reportedly recommended that licenses for undocumented drivers must include some kind of identifying mark.

The cardinal said such a condition would create "a large group of 'second class' citizens. The State would be separating out one group of citizens when the privilege of holding a valid driver's license has nothing to do with national origin or immigration status. Such special licenses would be looked upon with suspicion by those who review them, whether that be law enforcement or merchants."

Additionally, "I fear that the vast majority of people eligible for a California driver's license under the new Legislation will not apply for one. They do not want to be stigmatized and identified in such a special, negative manner. The goal of bringing uniform driver's education, training and insurance to all of California's drivers would be undermined. There would be great fear among these residents that the 'special markings' on their driver's license would be used against them in various ways."

In his letter, Cardinal Mahony noted that California is home to approximately 2 million undocumented citizens. "However," the cardinal said, "they are living in our midst; most are employed, hard-working and contributing to the overall benefit of our society. They are employed in many important occupations across the State, and without them, much of our State's economy would be severely impacted."