Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act

This bill ties a major public safety grant to state immigration policies. It would cut off Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grants to any state that either gives driver licenses to people without proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, or blocks local officials from sharing immigration enforcement information with the Department of Homeland Security. It also requires states to return any unspent grant money if they violate these rules, and keeps them ineligible for new funds until they change their laws to both stop issuing those licenses and allow information sharing with DHS.

Key points

• Who is affected: States that issue driver licenses to people without proof of citizenship or lawful presence, and states that restrict local or state officials from collecting or sharing immigration enforcement information with DHS.
• What changes: Such states must return any unspent Byrne JAG funds and are blocked from receiving new funds until they prohibit those licenses and allow information sharing.
• When: Return of unspent funds is due within 30 days after issuing a covered license, or within 30 days after the bill becomes law for states with information-sharing restrictions; ineligibility lasts until the state changes its policies.