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King And Zeldin Ask DOJ To Review Driver’s Licenses For Undocumented Immigrants

Andrew Harnik
/
AP
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., left, and Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., walk through the colonnade from the West Wing into the White House in Washington in 2017.

U.S. Representatives Lee Zeldin and Peter King of Long Island have asked the Department of Justice to weigh in on a controversial law in New York that would allow undocumented immigrants access to driver’s licenses.

Zeldin and King want to know from U.S. Attorney General William Barr if the law violates the U.S. Constitution. They seek legal action from the federal government that could block the state law from going into effect.

Several counties in New York say it violates federal labor and immigration laws that block employment of illegal immigrants. They’ve filed lawsuits in federal court, asking to have the law ruled unconstitutional.

There are also concerns about potential voter fraud from issuing government IDs to undocumented people.

New York is the 12th state to pass a law allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver’s license without a Social Security card, birth certificate or other proof that they entered the U.S. legally.

A native Long Islander, J.D. is WSHU's managing editor. He also hosts the climate podcast Higher Ground. J.D. reports for public radio stations across the Northeast, is a journalism educator and proud SPJ member.