From Deseret News archives:
Senators target license abuses
Utah leaders seeking a new type of driving privileges for illegal aliens
Their solution is a bill creating a new category of driver's license that could not legally be used for identification purposes a "driving privilege card" that could not, for example, be used to board an airplane.
The audit was privately requested by Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, who said federal authorities are already investigating several Utah cities from which "contractors" are issuing several drivers' licenses. For example, the address of one Salt Lake City apartment was linked to 65 licenses issued over 15 months.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said his office will join the effort. "Obviously we are very concerned about any kind of voter or driver's license fraud," Shurtleff said. "We'll aggressively pursue an investigation into the allegations."
Dave Ward, Immigration and Customs Enforcement resident agent in charge for central Utah, said a preliminary investigation has revealed a widespread problem.
"I've read the audit, and it's much larger," Ward said. "We're trying to figure out how big this operation is and how our homeland security is being compromised by this."
More than 58,000 drivers' licenses and 37,000 personal identification cards have been issued by the state to people who appear to be undocumented aliens, according to the audit.
Some 383 of them also registered to vote, the audit found, and 14 who may or may not have been citizens actually cast ballots in an election.
An examination of a sample of 135 of the registered voters showed five were naturalized citizens who were eligible to vote. The rest were likely not eligible to vote, including 20 labeled deportable.
The findings raise concerns that Utah is being "used as a portal for undocumented aliens living out of the state" to get drivers' licenses, Legislative Auditor General John Schaff noted in his 3 1/2-page letter to the Senate president.
Ward said the auditor's office asked him to verify names thought to be illegal aliens who had fraudulently registered to vote. He is also sorting through a list from the Department of Public Safety of single addresses used for multiple licenses. Many names appear on both lists, he said.
Comments
- Transactions 6:14 p.m.
- MLB: Police search for kidnappers 6:11 p.m.
- Students: Michigan AD shoved them 6:06 p.m.
- Spurs' Duncan, Parker sidelined 5:55 p.m.
- Falcons say they feed off Smith 5:54 p.m.
- Another delay possible in MLB case 5:53 p.m.
- TCU gets first sellout in 3 years 5:52 p.m.
- S.L., Provo mayors renew rivalry 5:45 p.m.
- Man sentenced for assault, stalking 5:44 p.m.
- Man pleads in drug-beating death 5:39 p.m.
- TCU showdown has big implications
- Seniors helped BYU regroup
- Hope for single moms
- Lambert surprisingly tops news
- Bystanders framed for child porn
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated
- Utah Jazz Extra: Whose hot/not
- Newhouse Hotel, an explosive end
- 12 high schools ready for 'The Turf'
- Reducing game time laughable
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
261 - House passes health care bill
222 - Lobo suspended
176 - TCU showdown has big implications
165 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
153 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
130 - Thousands protest health bill
110 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
109 - Provo company innovating engines
108 - RSL rallies to advance
103
Sen. Scott Jenkins was name-checked by Jay Leno Monday night during his...
I'm guessing that most of the comments on this web page are coming from...
Re: Crystal Ball 2:32: I think you're missing Crystal Ball's sarcasm. It's...
I just don't get it. Utah is one of 6 states that have a tax on unprepared...
Thank you Dad for all you went through to bring me to America. I am indeed...
@The Truth ....Since when are we putting our hopes on an undrafted...
Nice job to #12 Parker Anderson!! You had an amazing game and had two...
This is the year for Bronco basketball. Nobody can stop Zac Adams to Cameron...
Fred's convention loss to Huntsman was two-fold. The UEA default when Olene...
I don't think Stephenson has thought this through very well.
Ohai is the best soccer player in Utah History and is worhty of a SI Cover...




You can be the first to comment on this story.