Driver’s Licenses (S 0768)

In May, the ACLU testified before the Senate Judiciary committee in opposition to well-intentioned legislation designed to provide special driver’s licenses to foreign nationals. The legislation permitted the issuance of noticeably different driver’s licenses for all immigrants – documented or undocumented – seriously increasing the risk of racial profiling and harassment of immigrant drivers. The legislation further required immigrant drivers to submit to a national criminal background check before receiving a license, with no information as to how the information obtained would be used – leaving the possibility that the checks would be forwarded to immigration officials for possible action. The legislation ultimately failed to receive a committee vote.