The Virginia state legislature has advanced a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.
The bill successfully made its way through Virginia’s Senate’s Finance and Appropriations Committee on Wednesday with 11 Democrats voting yes against 5 Republicans who voted no.
An identical bill was also introduced in the Virginia House.
“This is probably the No. 1 issue in the Latino community,” Sen. Scott Surovell, a Democrat who was the chief sponsor of the bill, said. “The bill would basically allow about 300,000 people to obtain a driver’s license.”
“People need to be able to drive to the doctor, take their kids to school, and drive to work without fear of being prosecuted,” he said.
Virginians have been required since 2004 to show proof of legal status in order to receive a driver’s license, and this bill would put an end to that.
It is estimated that the new law would generate over $10 million in revenue.
Republican Del. Terry L. Austin voted against the House version of the bill over concerns that people could misrepresent who they are.
“I think we need to be very careful with this,” Austin said. “This could misrepresent an individual’s identity and could compromise the safety in the United States.”
The push from Democrats to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants comes during a time when the commonwealth is drawing national attention for cracking down on gun rights.
On Friday, the Democratic-controlled legislature moved to ban sporting rifles, large-capacity magazines, and suppressors.
