The issue of the availability of drivers’ licenses for illegal immigrants is heating up, with some lawmakers working to make the identification available.

In the United States, the matricular consular can be used in some states for identification to get a driver’s license. 

The matricular, Spanish for “to be registered”, is issued to Mexican citizens by Mexican consulates. To receive a card, a person must prove their Mexican citizenship, identity, and that they have a residence in the United States. While the cards do not establish legal residency in the United States, they do facilitate free travel to Mexico.

Some of the developments around the country on the driver’s license issue include the following:

·         In California, following a repeal of the previous law granting driver licenses to undocumented immigrants, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is urging the parties to unite to allow illegal residents to have access to driver’s licenses.  The previous driver’s license legislation, SB 60, was repealed immediately after Schwarzenegger took office.  An estimated two million people of driving age are in California illegally.

·         In Washington State, a lawmaker proposed a bill that would encourage financial institutions and local government to accept the matricular consular.  While the state accepts the card to identify those who are applying for driver’s licenses, individuals are also required to show supporting pieces of identification.  However, an applicant is not required to show that they are in the country legally.

·         The Kansas capital was crowded last week with hundreds of immigrants and supporters rallying for a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to gain driver’s licenses.  The state has been debating the issue since 2000.

·         North Carolina recently passed “Operation Stop Fraud,” which ended the state’s policy of accepting the Mexican identification cards at the beginning of February.  The law is designed to prevent individuals from using fake identification cards to receive driver’s licenses and state-issued identification cards.  Many other states implemented similar policies following September 11.

Operation Stop Fraud prevents Mexican immigrants from using several identification cards that they’ve relied on to get driver’s licenses.  The identification cards that are no longer applicable include military and voting cards issued by Mexico and the matricular consular.

·         Two Democratic state senators just introduced a licensing bill in Arizona.  The controversial bill would allow undocumented immigrants to be issued state driver’s licenses.  The bill is the in the middle of a heated legal debate concerning illegal immigration in Arizona.  Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano supports the bill.

·         A bill to prevent undocumented aliens from receiving driver’s licenses has been stalled in the Tennessee legislature. To receive a driver's license under the bill, immigrants would be required to have either a Social Security number or Bureau of Immigration Services documentation that they are in the country legally.  The license would only be good for one year, as opposed to a regular driver’s license, which is good for five years.

Lawmakers wanted to wait for the bill to reach the floor to give Governor Phil Bredesen time to announce his proposal and also to have time to make any final changes to the proposed bill.

Supporters believe that giving illegal immigrants licenses will improve safety on roads.  In addition, since individuals are often required to have a license in order to obtain insurance, getting licenses could prevent the number of hit-and-run accidents.  Critics, however, express concern that the move would weaken homeland security efforts and attract more undocumented immigrants by rewarding them.