Sen. Husted calls on states to end 'drive-only' licenses for illegal immigrants; 'no state should allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses'
COLUMBUS – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) this week wrote to 19 U.S. governors and the mayor of Washington, D.C. in strong opposition to policies in their states that allow illegal immigrants to obtain “drive-only” driver’s licenses and urging them to end such policies.
Nineteen states, as well as the District of Columbia, currently allow illegal immigrants to obtain “drive-only” licenses. Those jurisdictions are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.
A “drive-only” license is a type of driver’s license issued by some states to individuals who cannot demonstrate lawful immigration status or provide a Social Security number.
The issue came into focus in Ohio on Aug. 29, 2026, when an Ohioan was killed in a car crash in Fulton County. The other driver, Washington G. Naula Ochoa, was an illegal immigrant who had obtained a “drive-only” license in Connecticut. Ochoa has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide.
Ohio does not issue “drive-only” licenses to illegal immigrants. The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles maintains requirements limiting the issuance of Ohio driver’s licenses to U.S. citizens and individuals who can prove lawful presence in the United States.
This letter comes after Husted wrote to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Sept. 3, 2026, urging the departments to prohibit states from issuing “drive-only” driver’s licenses to individuals who cannot demonstrate lawful immigration status.
“I write today in strong opposition to your state’s policies that allow its motor vehicle system to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. These licenses, commonly referred to as ‘drive-only’ licenses, provide road privileges to individuals who cannot demonstrate lawful presence in the United States, erode public trust, and put Americans at risk,” wrote the lawmaker.
“No state should allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. Policies such as this not only put Americans at risk, but they continue to reward the behavior of impermissibly entering or remaining in the United States without legal status,” he continued.
“In the past 11 days, three Ohioans have been killed in car crashes caused by immigrants who illegally entered the United States,” he added.
“In the state of Ohio, individuals must provide proof of citizenship or lawful presence in the United States to receive any state identification card, including driver’s licenses. Additionally, Ohio law requires the word ‘noncitizen’ to be printed on state identification cards and driver's licenses issued to noncitizens lawfully present in the United States,” he wrote.
“I implore you to reverse course on these dangerous policies and instead adopt common-sense policies, like those in Ohio, to ensure that those obtaining driver's licenses are legally present in our nation,” he concluded.
Comment
No Federal Data To Support This Claim
It's fear mongering. Private data says .49 deaths per county. American citizens are primary culprits.
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Did Not Miss Truck Driver
He should not have been holding a CDL.
Big difference between operating a huge truck vs. passenger vehicles. States deemed it safer to issue license and minimal skills test and inform of insurance requirements. The labor force in construction and service industry needs the labor. ICE needs to focus more on employers hiring undocumented labor. Construction alone is 1.5 million as noted in my prior opine. Chamber of Commerce wants immigration reform. First priority is 3% GDP growth. Which is not obtained if over 8 million undocumented workers are removed.
deport
Deport illegals, cut snap, cut welfare, cut unemployment... Jobs will be filled.
The US Chamber of Commerce
Is considered conservative and right leaning. It is pro business advocacy group. Probably a shock to commentators here. They advocate for immigration reform and work visas. Deport 8 million undocumented workers goes against thier mission.
Google "US Chamber of Commerce" and read thier views. They don't align with every GOP values.
Really?
Do you actually think I care one second about Rinos, the haughty US chamber of commerce, or any advocacy group? Cut spending, cut spending some more, reject socialism, drill for oil, mine for minerals and valuables, and tell California to shut down every car wash, golf course, swimming pool, and lawn sprinkler until they get their water problem solved. Build desalinization plants. The Pacific holds quite a bit of cool clear water... water.
No License
I agree with Husted on this. In Ochoa's case it seems he needed a license to be working, driving a semi. We haven't been told if his immigration status was pending or if he was truly illegal. That's not a defense of him, just wondering what the reasoning was behind him getting a license and being approved for a CDL from a different state. Then there is the recent tragic death in Fairfield County where a truly illegal immigrant, previously deported and got back in past the border somewhere is driving without a license, drunk. What was he doing here? Working? Or up to mischief. Was the car he was driving licensed? The law would not have helped in this case, he just disregarded it. It's still a good idea.