Even in Sanctuary States Illegal Immigrants Commit Fraud to Get a Driver’s License

As if it were not bad enough that over a dozen states grant illegal immigrants driver’s licenses, a criminal ring has for years exploited the security vulnerabilities of the leftist policies to obtain licenses for undocumented migrants who live in jurisdictions that do not offer the benefit. For about $1,400, illegal aliens living in states that prohibit them from obtaining the cards, fraudulently secured them in New York and Massachusetts—both sanctuary states—with the help of five individuals. Federal authorities recently charged them with several crimes, including conspiracy to unlawfully produce and possess with intent to transfer identification documents and possession with intent to use or transfer unlawfully obtained identification. One of the suspects was also charged with furnishing a false passport.

The scheme operated for four years before authorities finally busted it and the criminals conspired to fraudulently apply for licenses for over 1,000 illegal immigrants. They obtained driver’s licenses for more than 600 migrants and collected at least hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to a federal indictment that says the defendants fabricated and falsified bank statements and bills to make it appear to the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that illegal aliens resided in the state and to falsely make it appear to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) that undocumented aliens lived at various addresses in that state. They also created fake driving education certificates of completion and forged the signatures of driving school staff to make it appear that migrants completed the required curriculum.

The operation was well organized and complex, according to federal authorities, because obtaining a driver’s license in either state requires residents to first earn a learner’s permit that consists of a written test. Applicants can take the test online if they provide a photo of themselves completing it and once the learner’s permit has been issued applicants have to finish a driving course before taking the actual test required to get a license. The defendants took the written test online and used photos of the migrant applicants to appear as if they were taking it. Then they provided fake certificates of completion and other false documents to New York DMV and Massachusetts RMV employees that believed the illegal immigrants lived in those states. The defendants would drive the migrants to apply for the license and have the cards mailed to local addresses where they would retrieve the licenses mailed by the state agencies. Though the ring has been disrupted, “the investigation remains ongoing,” according to a statement issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the District of Massachusetts.

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses if they provide documentation such as a foreign birth certificate, foreign passport or consular card and evidence of residency in that state, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. They include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. In late 2023 Minnesota’s measure, known as Driver’s Licenses for All, became the latest to go into effect. At the time officials estimated that about 80,000 illegal immigrants who were previously disqualified from obtaining the cards in the North Star state would be allowed to get them. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’ running mate, said ensuring that drivers are licensed and carry insurance makes the roads more secure for all Minnesotans. “As a longtime supporter of this bill, I am proud to finally sign it into law, making our roads safer and moving us toward our goal of making Minnesota the best state to raise a family for everyone,” the Democrat lawmaker said when he proudly signed the measure.

As this federal case illustrates, policies enacted by local sanctuary governments to benefit illegal aliens can be easily exploited and go against federal laws meant to protect the nation’s citizens and legal residents. Furthermore, there is no evidence that giving undocumented migrants driver’s licenses makes “roads safer” as Walz claims.