Illinois expected to let aliens drive

Monday, January 28, 2013

— Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was expected to sign a bill Sunday that will issue driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.

It would make Illinois the fourth and most populous state to give illegal aliens permission to drive.

Backers of the proposal tout it as a public-safety measure and say that facial recognition technology is reliable enough to prevent fraud. But opponents point to hundreds of fraudulent cases in New Mexico, Washington and Utah, which give illegal aliens permission to drive.

Illinois will not require applicants to be fingerprinted, for fear that would discourage aliens from applying.

Illegal aliens will be able to obtain a three-year temporary driver’s license after they receive training and are tested. They must also purchase insurance.

Front Section, Pages 2 on 01/28/2013