Foxx opposes giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants
Thursday November 09, 2007

Rep. Foxx co-sponsors measure in opposition to granting licenses to illegal aliens

WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) co-sponsored a Congressional resolution this week that calls on states not to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. The issue of granting licenses to illegal immigrants arose recently when New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer proposed a plan to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants in the state of New York.

“The idea of giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants is the worst kind of idea,” Rep. Foxx said. “Such a policy would severely damage our national security, undermine the rule of law and open the door to wide-spread voter fraud.”

In many states individuals applying for a driver’s license are given the opportunity to automatically register to vote. These “motor voter” programs could be exploited to allow illegal immigrants to register to vote. In fact, The Wall Street Journal recently noted that eight of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were registered to vote, thanks to loopholes in some state laws that allow illegal aliens to get driver’s licenses.

“A driver’s license is a gateway to many privileges in America, including the right of every citizen to vote,” Foxx said. “If we hand out licenses to every illegal alien who comes knocking then we put the democratic process at risk and water down the meaning of every valid vote cast.”

The resolution (H. Res 800) currently has more than 50 bipartisan co-sponsors. H. Res 800 holds that states that provide official government-issued identification to individuals who are in the United States illegally are encouraging disrespect and disregard for federal immigration laws.