Illinois illegal drivers to get licenses

ILLINOIS (AP) - Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign a bill Sunday that will issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

It would make Illinois the fourth and most populous state to give illegal immigrants permission to drive.

Backers of the proposal tout it as a public-safety measure and say that facial recognition technology is reliable enough to prevent fraud. But opponents point to hundreds of fraudulent cases in New Mexico, Washington and Utah, which give illegal immigrants permission to drive.

Illinois will not require applicants to be fingerprinted, for fear that would discourage immigrants from applying.

Illegal immigrants will be able to obtain a three-year temporary driver's license after they receive training and are tested. They must also purchase insurance.