Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s Proposed Legislation on Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has put forward a bill addressing the issue of terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This legislation aims to restrict states from issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.
The bill, titled “Stop Greenlight,” seeks to prevent states from providing driver’s licenses under existing illegal immigration regulations. It stipulates that states that issue licenses to undocumented individuals or hinder law enforcement from sharing information with federal immigration authorities would be ineligible for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.
Currently, 19 states along with the District of Columbia allow driver’s licenses to be issued to undocumented immigrants.
“The state should not reward illegal aliens for breaking immigration laws by issuing licenses as if it’s candy,” Blackburn expressed in a statement. “We are a nation governed by laws. Local governments must not actively contravene federal immigration laws designed to protect our country.”
The bill mandates that states must issue driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, restrict collaboration with federal immigration agents, and reimburse any grant funds within a month.
Representative Jodey Arrington (R-TX) is backing a corresponding proposal in the House.
This legislation is linked to the events of 9/11. The terrorists involved in the hijacking utilized state-issued licenses along with some who had overstayed their visas.
Among the most notable cases is Mohamed Atta, a terrorist involved in the hijacking who, despite having overstayed his visa in January 2001, managed to obtain a Florida driver’s license shortly afterward.
Ultimately, Atta, along with four other hijackers, was responsible for the deaths of 11 crew members and 76 passengers on American Airlines Flight 11. It’s estimated that around 1,700 people lost their lives when Atta crashed his plane into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
