S 2774119th CongressIn Committee

Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act of 2025

Introduced: Sep 11, 2025

Immigration

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act of 2025 would condition federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding on a state's immigration-related policies. Specifically, it targets two practices: (1) issuing driver licenses to individuals who cannot prove U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, and (2) restricting or blocking the collection, sharing, or receipt of immigration enforcement information with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If a state engages in either practice, it would face penalties that include returning unobligated JAG funds within 30 days and losing eligibility for JAG funds until it enacts laws/policies to prohibit license issuance to those lacking status and to allow sharing immigration enforcement information with DHS. The bill defines key terms and expands the set of funds and recipients covered under JAG. In short, the bill uses federal grant funding as leverage to deter states from issuing driver licenses to undocumented immigrants and to ensure cooperation with federal immigration enforcement data-sharing. States would need to align their licensing policies and information-sharing practices with these federal conditions to maintain access to JAG funds.

Key Points

1Conditions on federal funding: States must comply with immigration-related licensing and information-sharing requirements to remain eligible for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds.
2Prohibition on licenses for certain individuals: A state that issues driver licenses to individuals without proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence would trigger penalties and potential loss of unobligated JAG funds.
3Information-sharing requirement: States that prohibit or restrict local or state entities from collecting, sending to, or receiving immigration enforcement information with DHS would trigger penalties and potential loss of unobligated JAG funds.
4Financial penalties and remediation timeline: If a violation occurs, states must return unobligated JAG funds within 30 days; the same applies after enactment for noncompliant states. They must also institute compliant laws/policies to regain eligibility.
5Scope of funds and recipients: The definition of JAG funds includes grants under parts of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and includes grants to units of local government within a state, not just state-level grants.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- States that issue driver licenses to individuals lacking proof of citizenship or lawful presence.- State and local governments that receive Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds (including grants to units of local government).Secondary group/area affected- Federal- and state-level information-sharing practices with DHS, and the broader governance of immigration enforcement data.- Immigrant communities, particularly those relying on driver licenses for identification and access to services, who may be affected by licensing policies and data-sharing requirements.Additional impacts- Administrative and financial: States would need to monitor licensing practices and information-sharing policies to avoid loss of JAG funds; potential administrative burden to ensure compliance and to enact new laws/policies.- Legal/policy considerations: The bill could raise debates about federalism, state authority over driver licensing, privacy, and civil rights related to immigration status and data collection/sharing.

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