Blackburn unveils bicameral, bipartisan bill targeting driver licenses for illegal aliens

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on Feb. 12 sponsored a bill that would restrict certain federal grants for states that grant driver licenses to illegal immigrants and fail to share information about criminal aliens with the federal government.

“Immigrants must follow the proper federal process and obtain citizenship or lawful status before obtaining a state driver license,” Sen. Blackburn said. “In America, no one is above the law.”

Sen. Blackburn introduced the Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act, S. 3286, with eight Republican cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Steve Daines (R-MT).

U.S. Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) on Feb. 12 introduced companion legislation, the same-named H.R. 5862, in the U.S. House of Representatives with 24 GOP cosponsors.

“Tennesseans know all too well what can happen when illegal immigrants are granted driver licenses,” said Sen. Blackburn, referencing vehicular deaths in her home state caused by illegal aliens who were later deported.

“While Tennessee and many other states prohibit driver licenses for illegal aliens, a growing number of states are moving in the opposite direction and unleashing dangerous open borders policies,” the senator said.

If enacted, the bill would halt certain U.S. Department of Justice grant funding to states that defy federal immigration law, such as funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, which provides yearly support to states for local law enforcement and criminal justice initiatives.

In fiscal year 2019, states that issued driver licenses to illegal immigrants received nearly $53 million from the JAG Program, according to Sen. Blackburn’s office, which noted that the bill would require states that issued driver licenses to illegal aliens, or states that failed to share immigration enforcement information with the Department of Homeland Security, to return unallocated funds to the JAG Program within 30 days.

The bill has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, while H.R. 5862 is under review by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.