On September 27, Oregonians for Immigration Reform (OFIR) will hold its next meeting in Salem. Meeting participants will discuss their ongoing campaign to oppose allowing undocumented immigrants to gain legal driving privileges. Meeting participants will also hear a presentation from Derek Hernandez, Vice President of the National Border Patrol Council. According to the meeting announcement, Hernandez “will connect the dots between the crisis on the border and the attraction of a state issued ID – like a driver card.”
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber signed a law allowing undocumented Oregonians to earn driver cards last May. Shortly afterwards, anti-immigrant activists delayed the law’s implementation by successfully staging a signature gathering campaign and forcing a referendum on it in this November’s election.
The activists’ referendum campaign has benefited significantly from the contributions of many far-right and anti-immigrant activists across the country. Dubbed protect “Oregon Driver [sic] Licenses,” the campaign garnered just 149 valid signatures over the 58,142 required in a state where nearly 4 million people reside, or a little less than ten percent of the population of Portland.
OFIR is listed as an official state contact group by the flagship group of the organized anti-immigrant movement in this country, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
After the meeting, OFIR members will hold a 10 minute rally where they will wave campaign signs and American flags.