Push to grant immigrants driver's licenses speeds up

ST. PAUL – Advocates of a push to grant driver's licenses to people living in the country illegally packed a Minnesota House hearing Wednesday, at times breaking into tears as supporters explained how the change would affect them.

The move has support from a broad coalition of businesses, religious leaders and law enforcement officials who say it will make roads safer as more people take driver's safety tests and buy car insurance. But some argue giving licenses to those without legal resident status will make it easier for them to commit voter fraud.

Ana Serrano told the House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee that the move would help her parents, who immigrated from Mexico years ago. They rely on her older brother to drive them around Willmar because they can't legally obtain driver's licenses.

Rep. Rod Hamilton, who's carrying a bill to make the change, said he was initially skeptical of the idea. But the Mountain Lake Republican said he's since realized the public safety impacts the move would have.

The bill's Senate version would mark such licenses as "for driving only" on the back to address concerns over voter fraud. But that's not enough for Minnesota Majority President Dan McGrath.

"I've been ID'd for many things throughout my life and never in my life has someone looked at the back of my identification," McGrath said. "So I think that any designation like that, for purposes of election integrity, needs to go on the front."

The committee didn't vote on the bill Wednesday, which dismayed some Democratic members. It already has cleared two stops in the DFL-led Senate.

Gov. Mark Dayton said his own view on the issue has shifted from initial opposition to likely support.

"I still have problems with it because I think people who are here, even if they are not here legally, should still follow other laws," Dayton said.

But the Democratic governor said as long as it's clear that the licenses cannot be used for voter identification, he would let the bill become law.

Associated Press reporter Brian Bakst contributed to this story.