Senator Ron Wyden, Representative Adriano Espaillat, and 38 other members of Congress have asked 19 Democratic governors to limit ICE’s access to driver license and registration data. The lawmakers expressed concerns about the use of this information for immigration enforcement.
According to U.S. Senator Ron Wyden's Office, ICE and Homeland Security Investigations access data through the Nlets system, which connects law enforcement agencies across North America. In the year leading up to October 1, ICE made over 292,000 DMV data requests, while Homeland Security Investigations made over 605,000 requests.
Some states have already restricted access. Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York have blocked ICE, with Washington joining after discussions with the lawmakers. Oregon is reportedly planning similar restrictions. However, ICE still has warrantless access to driver databases in most states.
The letter emphasizes that restricting access would not affect investigations into serious crimes, as states can share data on a case-by-case basis. Lawmakers note that limited information about Nlets makes it difficult for states to track how resident data is shared federally and out-of-state.
The initiative reflects a bipartisan effort to manage privacy concerns while maintaining the ability to collaborate on serious crimes.
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