Illinois Seeks to Improve Driver's License Process for Immigrant Motorists
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is pushing for legislation that aims to improve the driver's license issuance process for immigrant motorists, making roads safer and protecting the well-being of legal immigrant drivers. House Bill 3882, crafted in partnership with stakeholders and lawmakers, passed the Illinois House of Representatives last week.
The bill proposes replacing Temporary Visitor Driver's Licenses (TVDLs) with a 4-year standard driver's license, with the phrase "Federal Limits Apply" printed along the top in accordance with the federal REAL ID Act. The existing wording, "Not Valid for Identification," would be removed from the licenses.
Secretary Giannoulias stated that the legislation would ensure that all drivers, including immigrants, must prove they are safe and capable motorists to obtain a standard driver's license. Currently, TVDLs often indicate that a driver may be undocumented and cannot be used for identification purposes.
Sponsored by State Representative Barbara Hernandez (50th District – Aurora), HB 3882 passed the House with a 67-35 vote and will now head to the State Senate for consideration. State Sen. Ram Villivalam (8th District – Chicago) is sponsoring the bill in the Senate chamber. If the bill becomes law, Illinois will join several other states, including California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Colorado, in implementing similar processes.
The proposed legislation also introduces standard, non-REAL ID compliant ID cards for immigrants and restricts sharing driver data by prohibiting its use for immigration enforcement purposes. Immigration agents would need to provide a court-issued warrant, order, or subpoena to request personally identifying information.
In Illinois, undocumented immigrants are required to pass a driving test, have auto insurance, provide a passport or consular card for proof of name and date of birth, and present documents confirming at least one year of residency in the state to obtain a TVDL. Giannoulias' office has implemented additional safeguards to ensure TVDL holders cannot receive a REAL ID or be added to voting rolls.
Over 300,000 people currently hold a TVDL in Illinois. The program was first implemented a decade ago with bipartisan support to enhance road safety through stringent road-testing requirements.