Politics
More Than 155,000 Standard IDs and Driver’s Licenses Issued to Illinois Noncitizens in 5 Months Since Law Went Into Effect
Video: State Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) joined “Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices” on Dec. 12, 2024, to discuss standardized IDs and driver’s licenses for noncitizens. (Produced by Abena Bediako)
More than 155,000 standardized IDs and driver’s licenses for non-U.S. citizens have been issued in the five months since an Illinois law went into effect that aims to protect noncitizens from discrimination, according to numbers from the Illinois Secretary of State’s office.
The law, which went into effect in July, grants noncitizens regardless of immigration status the ability to obtain a standardized state driver’s license replacing the Temporary Visitor Driver’s License, which displayed a purple banner and the words “Not Valid For Identification.”
“That purple marker has become a Scarlet Letter, potentially exposing [noncitizens] to judgment, discrimination or immigration enforcement,” Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said during a news conference in July, adding the standard licenses also aims to make roads safer by encouraging more motorists to obtain a license.
The four-year driver’s license for noncitizens features a standard red banner and replaces “Not Valid For Identification” with “Federal Limits Apply.” Noncitizens who are unable or choose not to drive also have the option to obtain a standardized ID.
Since the law went into effect, the office has issued 49,852 state IDs and 106,026 driver’s licenses for noncitizens, according to Illinois Secretary of State spokesperson Max Walczyk.
The standard driver’s license and ID can also be used as a form of identification to help noncitizens perform tasks like filling prescriptions, opening a bank account or applying for an apartment, according to officials.
State elected officials and advocates have vowed to protect immigrant communities in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants during his second term.
In response to inquiries regarding Trump’s plans of mass deportations, Walczyk said in a statement the legislation that established standard identification cards for noncitizens restricts the sharing of driver information by prohibiting the use of Illinois Secretary of State data for immigration enforcement purposes.
“Immigration agents are required to provide a court-issued warrant, order or subpoena to request the personally identifying information of an individual with a standardized driver’s license or state ID,” Walczyk said in a statement.
How to Apply
If an individual currently holds a Temporary Visitor Driver’s License, they are not required to present any additional documentation to apply for a standard driver’s license or state ID and can complete the process online. If applying in person, the individual must present their current card, according to the Illinois Secretary of State’s office.
To apply for a first-time standard state ID, an undocumented individual must visit a DMV and present:
- A current or expired (up to two years) passport or consular card (from one of the five approved countries) to verify their name, date of birth and signature
- Proof they’ve lived in Illinois for at least a year and proof of current Illinois residency.
To apply for a first-time standard driver’s license, the individual must visit a DMV and present:
- A current or expired (up to two years) passport or consular card (from one of five approved countries) to verify their name, date of birth and signature.
- Proof that the vehicle used for the road test is insured.
- Proof they have lived in Illinois for at least a year and proof of current Illinois residency.
Applicants must also pass vision, written and behind-the-wheel driving tests.
Note: This article was published Dec. 11, 2024, and updated with video Dec. 12, 2024.
Contact Eunice Alpasan: @eunicealpasan | 773-509-5362 | [email protected]
