Nevada to consider driver privilege cards for illegal aliens
Nevada Senate Majority Leader Mo Denis (D) plans to introduce legislation next session that would give driver’s privilege cards to all illegal aliens residing in the state. Nevada already offers driver’s licenses to illegal aliens who obtain work permits under the Obama Administration’s executive amnesty.
Sen. Denis said, "It's about doing the right thing. This is a safety issue. This is not a federal immigration issue as people like to say." Denis said many illegal aliens drive without a license anyway, which causes a host of problems.
As envisioned, the driving privilege cards would allow illegal aliens to drive legally in Nevada but could not be used to board airplanes or prove a person’s identity. The cards would be similar to those issued in Utah. Denis’ legislation would prohibit the state from sharing information on card holders with ICE.
Republican leaders in the state Senate and Assembly are divided on the issue. Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson (R) said, "I certainly support it in concept. But they'd have to prove they've lived here for at least six months. I don't want us turning into a New Mexico, where people were flying in from all over the world to get a driver's license, then flying out."
Assembly Minority Leader Pat Hickey (R) said he wants to focus on creating jobs in Nevada and let the federal government address immigration. "Our State Legislature should focus itself on helping revive Nevada's struggling economy and not trying to cobble together piecemeal solutions to a national problem," Hickey said. Nevada’s has an 11.5 percent unemployment rate.
In a statement a spokesperson for Gov. Brian Sandoval said, "The governor remains opposed to granting driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. The governor is also familiar with the concept of the driver’s privilege card law in Utah. However, given the fact that Sen. Denis’s proposed bill may contain material differences to the Utah law, the governor will refrain from further comment until he is able to fully review the bill."
In November, the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles announced it would issue driver’s licenses to illegal aliens who obtained employment authorization cards under the Obama Administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Work permits issued to immigrants and nonimmigrants have been accepted by the DMV since 1999, a DMV spokesman said.
In a statement, Gov. Sandoval said he would not change DMV policy. “As long as all of the DMV procedures are followed and other forms of identification are valid, I support this policy.” Senate Minority Leader Roberson also supports licenses for DACA recipients.
Nevada has the largest percentage of illegal aliens in the nation, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. Illegal aliens make up 7.2 percent of Nevada's population and account for 12.2 percent of the state's 1.4 million workers.