Cracking Down On Illegal Immigration

Legislators approved several measures last week intended to combat illegal immigration. One bill headed to Governor Easley includes a provision prohibiting the use of Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) to obtain a driver’s license, and instead requires a Social Security card or valid visa for all new applicants. Another measure (HB 1942) would require state government, including the UNC system, community colleges, and school systems, to use a federal database to ensure new hires are legal residents. The House also previously passed a resolution (HR 2692) calling on the U.S. Congress to enact meaningful immigration reform, including locating a new immigration court in Charlotte and allowing local authorities to be able to work with federal agencies to deport illegal immigrants who are caught driving while impaired or for other serious crimes.