Immigration News: Colorado Advances Bill For Driver's Licenses; Could It Pass Into Law?

Colorado's State Senate is one step closer to approving a bill granting drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. On a party-line vote in the Democratic-majority Judiciary Committee, the resolution granting licenses for undocumented residents of Colorado passed 3-2.

Adams County Sen. Jessie Ulibarri, a Democrat and sponsor of the bill said that since numerous immigrants are likely using Colorado's state highways, the purpose of the bill is to allow those folks to become licensed drivers and therefore less of a threat to fellow motorists.

Law enforcement associations across Colorado are supporting the bill as well including the Colorado Police Chiefs Association. Unlike some propositions elsewhere in the United States, this driver's license bill has been seen as more comprehensive than most. State Sen. Steve King, R-Mesa County, said he approved of the legislation but was still "conflicted" about it.

While non-citizens could ideally receive licenses, a major hurdle toward a long-term stay in America, they would also have to prove they pay their taxes and have a foreign ID card as well. The license could not be used as proof of voting eligibility, a major concern of many conservatives nationwide.

Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, will likely sign the bill if it reaches his desk in Denver.

Colorado joins Illinois, Washington, New Mexico, and possibly soon Puerto Rico and Maryland as jurisdictions which allow undocumented immigrants access to drivers licenses. However, due to the fact that drivers licenses often have a term longer than legal immigrants available tenure in America, there is still some concern that disreputable people could gain long-term residence in the United States illegally despite their visa term.

NumbersUSA, an organization against issuing drivers licenses in this manner, said that sometimes offering licenses to undocumented immigrants can lead to ill-fated results. They note that Mohammed Atta, an Egyptian national in Florida on a six-month tourist visa in the early 2000s, was issued a drivers license valid through 2007. He later flew a plane into the Twin Towers in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001.

While an overwhelming majority of undocumented immigrants are simply trying to escape the perils of their homeland, such as in Mexico, in order to support their family, there will always be hawkish organizations making sure any legislation changing longstanding tradition is well thought out. Being one of the first licensing bills to garner bipartisan support in this regard, Ulibarri's bill has a better chance of passing than others to follow.