Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act
This bill would tighten federal funding eligibility for states by tying the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funds to two specific immigration-related requirements. First, states would be penalized if they issue driver licenses to individuals who cannot prove United States citizenship or lawful presence. Second, states would be penalized if they prohibit or impede sharing immigration enforcement information with the federal government. If a state triggers either provision, it could be required to return unobligated JAG funds within a 30-day window and would become ineligible for JAG funding until it enacts laws or policies to (a) ban license issuance to individuals lacking proof of status and (b) permit the collection and sharing of immigration enforcement information with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill defines key terms and sets the policy under the Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act.
Key Points
- 1The bill amends JAG grant eligibility to penalize states that issue driver licenses to individuals without proof of citizenship or lawful presence.
- 2The bill penalizes states that prohibit or restrict sharing immigration enforcement information with DHS.
- 3If a state issues a license to someone lacking status, it must return unobligated JAG funds within 30 days of that license issuance.
- 4If a state restricts immigration enforcement information sharing, it must return unobligated JAG funds within 30 days of the bill’s enactment.
- 5A state found to trigger either provision becomes ineligible for JAG funds until it enacts laws/policies to (A) prohibit license issuance to those lacking status and (B) allow collection/sharing of immigration enforcement information with DHS. The bill also provides definitions for JAG funds, immigration enforcement information, and what constitutes a State.