Ohio’s Republican senators introduced familiar legislation that would prohibit illegal immigrants from obtaining “drive-only” licenses by withholding federal funds from states that issue them to those who cannot provide proof of citizenship.
Sens. Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted introduced the “Red Light Act” on Wednesday in the upper chamber, legislation that House Republican lawmakers have previously pushed for several times since 2019.
A “drive-only” license is a license issued by some states to individuals who cannot demonstrate lawful immigration status or provide a Social Security Number.
The Red Light Act instructs the U.S. Department of Transportation to withhold a state’s share of federal highway funds if it allows illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses or other forms of identification. Withheld funds would then be redistributed to states that do not issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.
Despite previous failed attempts by their colleagues to pass similar legislation, Mr. Moreno and Mr. Husted are attempting to highlight their bill during the midterm election cycle.
Recent national attention has turned the spotlight on the deadly consequences of states issuing commercial and non-commercial driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.
On August 29, an Ohioan was killed in a car crash caused by an illegal immigrant who obtained a “drive-only” license in Connecticut.
Following this deadly accident, Mr. Moreno sent a letter to Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, several questions, including how many licenses did Connecticut issue to illegal immigrants since he received their letter, and how many illegal immigrants with “drive-only” licenses have committed a crime?
They also asked how many illegal immigrants with “drive-only” licenses have registered to vote and/or voted, and how much it costs taxpayers to issue drive-only licenses to illegal immigrants.
The Washington Times reached out to Mr. Lamont.
In the week that followed, between Aug. 29 and Sept. 6, three Ohioans were killed in crashes caused by illegal immigrants.
Besides Connecticut, eighteen other states and the District of Columbia allow illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses.
The Ohio lawmakers stressed that their state does not issue these licenses and said other states should not either.
“How many more Ohio families have to bury their loved ones who were murdered by illegal immigrants who never should have been behind the wheel, before Democrats finally admit enough is enough? This epidemic has gone on too long,” Mr. Moreno said.
Mr. Husted said, “America continues to see the tragic results of the Biden administration’s open border and sanctuary policies. Just last month, an Ohioan was killed in a car accident because of a failed Connecticut state policy that gave a driver’s license to an immigrant who entered our country illegally.”
The Ohio senators’ legislation comes one day after testimony before a House Judiciary subcommittee from grief-stricken family members of people killed by illegal immigrants driving on U.S. roads.
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