Sangamon Sun

Illinois State Rep. Bill Hauter (R-187) commented on recent changes to non-citizen driver's licenses in a July 3 Facebook post. The post included a link to a news article about the passage of House Bill 3882, which replaces the Temporary Visitor Driver's Licenses (TVDLs) with standard driver's licenses.

"Another step to voting rights…their ultimate goal," wrote Rep. Hauter, in his Facebook post.

Hauter shared a link to a WCBU report that states Illinois’ standard driver’s licenses that can be used as valid identification will be available to non-citizens regardless of their immigration status. Gov. JB Pritzker (D) signed H.B. 3882 into law on June 30. WCBU reports the new licenses will resemble standard driver's licenses, only with the words “Federal Limits Apply” at the top. The new licenses do not qualify as REAL ID for travel purposes, the report states.

The traditional TVDLs have a purple banner that reads “TVDL” above the words “Not Valid for Identification.” WCBU reported that immigration advocates claim the purple bar "stigmatizes the people holding them, creates barriers to other kinds of services that require identification such as picking up medication from a pharmacy or signing an apartment lease, and exposes them to law enforcement action."

Immigrants have been able to apply for and be issued a TVDL since 2013, according to the Illinois Secretary of State's office. Applicants were required to provide a valid, unexpired foreign passport or an Illinois State Police-approved Consular card, have liability insurance and have resided in the state for more than 12 months. More than 300,000 individuals currently have TVDLs, WCBU reported. 

The process for issuance of a standardized driver's license for someone without a Social Security number is the same as for a TVDL, according to the report. Illinois Sec. of State Alexi Giannoulias said the "documentation will ensure that noncitizens are not added to the voter rolls as part of Illinois’ automatic voter registration program," WCBU reported. The law also prohibits the office from giving information to immigration officials without a court order, according to the report. 

In March, NBC 5 Chicago reported that applicants must pass a driving test as well as provide the required documentation, and that the licenses will be valid for four years.