ICE bought state driver’s license records to track undocumented immigrants

A number of states in recent years have passed laws allowing undocumented immigrants to be eligible for driver’s licenses.  The Trump administration’s greatly increased immigration enforcement efforts have generated concern in immigrant communities that the U.S. government might seek information about undocumented immigrants with licenses.  It turns out that the concerns are justified.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) purchased a year’s worth of North Carolina’s driver’s license data — for less than $27 total — “which the agency used to identify and locate undocumented immigrants living in the state” Justin Rohrlich reports for Quartz. “In total, the agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division paid the Executive Office of the State of North Carolina just $26.50 for the 12-month arrangement, which began June 30, 2017.” Nationwide, the country’s motor vehicle databases have records on more individuals than any single law enforcement directory.

KJ