No Drivers Licenses For Immigrants?

New York, NY —

Illegal immigrants are bracing for federal legislation that would deny them drivers licenses. Immigrant advocates say the bill will make the roads less safe, but supporters say it will make the nation safer from terrorism. WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports.

The federal legislation would require states to verify citizenship before issuing drivers licenses or id's. Since late 2003, New York state's Department of Motor Vehicles has been checking the social security numbers of everyone in its system. It's found 300-thousand that do not match up with federal records. Chung Wah Hong from the New York Immigration Coalition says the new rules would turn DMV clerks into immigration agents.

HONG: I think issuing drivers licenses should be about verifying identity and residency and it's not about your immigration status.

The stricter requirements are meant to prevent terrorists from getting a state issued id. The proposed rules are included in a bill to pay for the war in Iraq and are likely to become law.