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For Immediate Release
November 15, 2007 |
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Shays Supports Measures
Restricting States Ability to Issue Driver’s Licenses
to Illegal Immigrants
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Christopher Shays (CT-4)
announced his support for multiple legislative proposals to
prohibit states from issuing driver’s licenses to illegal
immigrants:
“A driver’s license should only be issued to
someone if they can prove they are in the state legally,”
Shays said. “An important part of issuing a driver’s
license is ensuring someone is who they say they are. For
a state DMV to take on the responsibility of verifying the
identity of someone who is not in the United States legally,
they must rely on foreign documents which can be prone to
fraud. This is a serious concern as they can use that driver’s
license to access federal buildings, rent a vehicle, get on
a plane or for countless other activities which we rely on
verifiable identification. Tightening access to state-issued
identification cards is an important and necessary improvement
to our homeland security.”
Shays is a cosponsor of the following measures:
H.R. 4160 by Rep. Fossella withholds a portion of a state’s
federal highway funding if that state issues driver’s
licenses that are not compliant with the Real ID Act
H.Res. 800 by Rep. Latham expresses the sense of the House
that states should not be issuing driver’s licenses
to illegal immigrants.
Bill being introduced by Reps. King & Sessions would
prohibit states from issuing licenses and identification documents
to individuals who are not lawfully present in the United
States
H.R. 1314, the Photo Identification Security Act, by Rep
Blackburn restricts the forms of identification that may be
accepted by the federal government or by financial institutions
to the following: 1) a Social Security card accompanied by
a photo identification card issued by the federal or a state
government; 2) a driver's license or identification card issued
by a state that is in compliance with the REAL ID Act of 2005;
3) a passport issued by the United States or a foreign government;
or 4) a photo identification card issued by the Secretary
of Homeland Security.
Contact: Dave Natonski , 202/225-5541
Contact:
Sarah Moore, 202/225-5541
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