{"id":13532,"date":"2017-01-23T18:13:43","date_gmt":"2017-01-23T23:13:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/live-immigrationreform.pantheonsite.io\/?p=13532"},"modified":"2018-12-28T13:03:45","modified_gmt":"2018-12-28T18:03:45","slug":"virginia-committee-kills-illegal-alien-drivers-license-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.immigrationreform.com\/2017\/01\/23\/virginia-committee-kills-illegal-alien-drivers-license-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"Virginia Committee Kills Illegal Alien Driver\u2019s License Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Virginia Senate Transportation Committee killed a bill<\/a> last Wednesday that would have allowed illegal aliens living in the state to receive driver\u2019s licenses. Senate Bill 1345 (S.B. 1345)<\/a>, introduced by Senator Scott Surovell (D-36), would have allowed illegal aliens to receive \u201cdriver\u2019s privilege cards\u201d so long as the individual filed an individual tax return with the Commonwealth within the preceding year and meets all insurance requirements. Senator Surovell referred to the measure as \u201clicenaias para todos legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Opponents raised concerns that S.B. 1345 would increase security risks, as driving privilege cards may be mistaken as a valid form of identification. A \u201cdriving privilege card\u201d does not meet requirements set by federal law under the REAL ID Act<\/i><\/a> to be used for federal identification purposes, which include boarding an aircraft or entering a federal building. Under this measure, a \u201cdriving privilege card\u201d differs from a standard Virginia driver’s license because the card could only be accepted for driving purposes.<\/p>\n

The Committee voted party lines, 7-6, to defeat the measure. \u201cWe have a primary obligation for that primary document to do the verification that would be required for a driver\u2019s license or an identification card,\u201d commented Senator Steve Newman (R-23) who, voted against S.B .1345. \u201cWe heard from our State Police that is not doable, and it\u2019s certainly not doable under this bill,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart also opposed the measure. “Why should we issue a legal ID to someone who is here illegally? It\u2019s wrong,\u201d said Chairman Stewart. \u201cThe state should not be complicit in helping people who are here illegally and breaking U.S. law,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

House Bill 1682<\/a>, a similar bill, is currently being considered in the General Assembly. Following S.B. 1345\u2019s defeat, however, the legislature is unlikely to move forward this session with another bill granting illegal aliens with driver\u2019s licenses.