85,000 temporary driver's licenses issued to immigrants

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - More than 85,000 immigrants living in the U.S. illegally now have Illinois driver's licenses under a new state program.

The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises reports (http://bit.ly/1yGljZR ) the tally comes after the first full year that the program has been in place in Illinois.

The $30 licenses are valid for three years and may be used only for driving. They can't be used as identification for activities like boarding a plane, voting or buying a firearm.

Illinois Secretary of State spokesman Henry Haupt says nearly 190,000 people have scheduled appointments since the program began in late 2013.

Supporters say the law saves Illinois motorists money and make roads safer. Critics say the state should be cracking down on immigrants who entered the country illegally.

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Information from: Southern Illinoisan, http://www.southernillinoisan.com