# Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act of 2021

This bill aims to prevent states from issuing driver's licenses to people who are in the country illegally. Right now, some states allow undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses, while others don't. This bill would make it a federal requirement that states verify someone's legal immigration status before issuing a license, and it would penalize states that don't comply by reducing their federal highway funding.

The practical effect would be that undocumented immigrants couldn't legally drive anywhere in the country, even in states that currently allow it. This matters because a driver's license is often needed for more than just driving—people use it to board airplanes, enter federal buildings, open bank accounts, and prove their identity in everyday situations. If someone can't get a license, these activities become much harder or impossible. The bill would also affect mixed-status families, where some members are citizens or legal residents and others aren't, potentially creating complications for households trying to function normally.

For states, the bill creates a difficult choice: either change their licensing laws to match the federal requirement or lose highway funding, which pays for road repairs and infrastructure projects. States that have chosen to issue licenses to undocumented immigrants—often to improve road safety by ensuring all drivers are tested and insured—would face significant financial pressure to reverse those policies. The bill essentially uses federal money as leverage to force states to adopt a uniform immigration enforcement approach through their motor vehicle departments, even though immigration enforcement has traditionally been a federal responsibility.

Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act of 2021

Blackburn, Marsha

Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act of 2021 This bill prohibits a state from receiving certain federal law enforcement grants if it takes certain immigration-related actions. Specifically, a state may not receive such grants if it (1) issues a driver license to an individual who does not have proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence in the United States, or (2) prohibits a local or state government entity or official from sharing immigration enforcement information with the Department of Homeland Security.