FEDs, NY Reach Deal on Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

CNN reports that the Bush administration and New York cut a deal Saturday to create a new generation of driver’s licenses for U.S. citizens, but also allow undocuymented immigrants to get a version. New York is the fourth state to reach an agreement on federally approved secure licenses, after Arizona, Vermont and Washington. The Arizona deal announced in August does not contemplate issuing licenses to illegal immigrants, said Jeanine L’Ecuyer, a spokeswoman for Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.

he New York deal comes about one month after NY Governor Eliot Spitzer announced a plan whereby illegal immigrants with a valid foreign passport could obtain a license. Saturday’s agreement with the Homeland Security Department will create a three-tier license system in New York. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he was not happy that New York intended to issue IDs to illegal immigrants. But he said there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Governor Spitzer made clear he is going forward with his plan allowing licenses for illegal immigrants. But advocates on both sides of the debate said Spitzer had caved to pressure by adopting the administration’s stance on tighter security standards for most driver’s licenses.

KJ