With new electoral maps, some hope to bring back driving permits for undocumented immigrants in Wisconsin

This story was produced as part of the NEW (Northeast Wisconsin) News Lab , a consortium of six news outlets covering northeastern Wisconsin.

GREEN BAY - Around 19 states have implemented driving permits, or driver's cards, for immigrants living in the United States without proof of legal residency, giving them the ability to drive to essential daily activities like work and school.

These immigrants in Wisconsin aren't able to receive driving permits or licenses, but with the new electoral maps , some activists and lawmakers say this may change. This year, the state Senate and Assembly races reflect the new electoral maps — signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers. The maps were created to more evenly divide the legislative districts between Democrats and Republicans.

With the new maps, Amanda Garcia, executive director of Casa ALBA Melanie in Green Bay, said she hopes driving permits for undocumented people will be brought before legislators again.

Driving permits were available for immigrant drivers for decades, until a federal law blocked it in 2007. Since then, it's been up to individual states to determine whether to give that access back, Garcia said.

There are around 67,000 immigrants ages 16 and older living in Wisconsin without proof of legal residency. They would be eligible for a driver's permit if access were granted. Around 32,000 undocumented people in Wisconsin have children younger than 18, according to data for Wisconsin from the Migration Policy Institute .

Restoring driver's permits would allow them to take their children to school, the doctor and get themselves to work without fear of being stopped by police, Garcia said.

A common misconception about driving permits for immigrants is that the permits "somehow give them legal status" or grants them access to certain services like welfare services, Garcia said.

"The only thing that driver's licenses do is they allow you to drive a vehicle," Garcia said.

How would driving permits impact Green Bay if reinstated?

"Restoring drivers licenses will keep families together, it will increase economic opportunities for working families, it will ensure safer roads and will boost state revenue," Garcia said.

In 2022, the total number of people ticketed in Green Bay for driving without a license was 742. In 2023, that number jumped to 1,007, according to data from the Green Bay Police Department, obtained by the Green Bay Press-Gazette through an open records request.

Chris Davis, Green Bay police chief, stated in 2021 that his goal is to honor the current state law, but to prioritize traffic safety instead of seeking out and regulating those driving without a license specifically. In 2024, he said his stance has not changed.

"We're not an immigration enforcement business," Davis said. "Among other things, we do try to stop people from driving without licenses just because ... there is some level of correlation between driving without a license and involvement in traffic crashes."

If driving permits were to be reinstated, Davis said it would make it easier for the police department to identify those in accidents and reach out to their family in cases where an injury is involved. Also, reinstating driving permits would allow those who are undocumented to get car insurance, which is crucial in an accident.

"It would make it easier to identify people when they need our help and for a much smaller percentage of people who get involved in some kind of criminal activity," Davis said. "A lot of folks that I talked to in those situations, want to follow the law, they want to get a driver's license, have insurance and meet all their obligations so they're able to drive and do so safely ... I hear it all the time in some of our immigrant communities."

What do some candidates for state Assembly have to say about reinstating driving permits?

Some lawmakers have stated that if this issue is brought before state Legislature again, they will vote against it, including Rep. David Steffen, Republican candidate for the 4th Assembly District.

“I will vote against any legislation that expands government spending or state rights to those who have broken the law. Our state and country should remain welcoming to legal immigration but should never be supportive and welcoming to illegal immigration,” Steffen said.

However, some people on both sides of the aisle, including several candidates for state Assembly, have expressed interest in reinstating driving permits for immigrants living in Wisconsin without proof of legal residency if the matter is brought before the Legislature again.

Alicia Saunders, Democratic candidate for the 2nd Assembly District, said that with the new maps, Wisconsin is looking at the possibility of a very different Legislature, and along with that comes an opportunity to "take a fresh look at some of these policy changes." If elected, Saunders said, she would vote for driving permits to be reinstated.

"A framework for this will need to be worked out in the Legislature. This needs to include strong privacy protections for those who are undocumented," Saunders said. "Proper testing ensures that everyone on the road is licensed and insured, improving public safety. It’s a practical approach that benefits our community, makes our roads safer, and helps these individuals continue to contribute effectively to Wisconsin’s economy."

Rep. Peter Schmidt, Republican candidate for the 6th Assembly District, said the Dairy Business Association and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation are supportive of legislation to allow undocumented immigrants access to a driver's license due to the need for workers. However, he said he does not support allowing undocumented immigrants to have "official driver's licenses."

"I would be interested to learn more about what is termed a 'driver’s card' that would not undermine the REAL ID Act, and then the state and federal government could track who is in Wisconsin," Schmidt said.

Alexia Unertl, Democratic candidate for the 4th Assembly District, said she would vote in favor of reinstating driving permits or driver's cards for undocumented immigrants in Wisconsin. If elected, she would vote to ensure that "everyone who is physically able to drive can do so lawfully."

"State-issued driving tests and licenses are essential for ensuring the safety and lawful operation of motorized vehicles on public roads," Unertl said. "By allowing people who can physically drive the ability to do so legally, Wisconsin will strengthen its workforce by allowing greater freedom of movement and to reduce the risk of accidents caused by unlicensed and uninsured drivers."

Who would vote yes and who would vote no?

The Press-Gazette reached out to Green Bay-area candidates in contested races for the Assembly, state Senate and 8th Congressional District to determine their stance on driving permits and how they would vote if the issue was brought before Legislature once again.

Who is supports reinstating driving permits?

• Kristin Lyerly , Democratic candidate for 8th Congressional District, said she will be working at the federal level in Congress to help secure the border and reform our immigration system. "However, it is important that those residing in Wisconsin, whether documented or undocumented, be productive members of society, and this includes the ability to drive," she said.
• Kelly Peterson, Democratic candidate for Senate District 2, said that "without the labor of undocumented immigrants, Wisconsin’s workforce shortage would be even further exacerbated ... I understand Wisconsinites are worried about the border, but demonizing undocumented workers here in Wisconsin isn’t the way to address these concerns.
• Jamie Wall , Democratic candidate for Senate District 30, said he hopes to "work with law enforcement, farmers and other affected people to find a bipartisan path forward that’s both safe for our community and right for the economy."
• Alicia Saunders, Democratic candidate for Assembly District 2.
• Alexia Unertl, Democratic candidate for Assembly District 4.
• Amaad Rivera-Wagner, Democratic candidate for Assembly District 90, said he would vote in favor of reinstating driver's permits, but there would need to be language included in the bill that would allow refugees and other asylum seekers to obtain driving permits as well.

Who is against reinstating driving permits?

• Milt Swagel, Republican candidate for Assembly District 1.
• David Steffen, Republican candidate for Assembly District 4.
• Darwin Behnke, Republican candidate for Assembly District 4.
• Peter Schmidt, Republican candidate for Assembly District 6..
• Elijah Behnke, Republican candidate for Assembly District 6, said he understands the need for labor in the dairy industry, but would not vote for the bill as previously written.
• Phil Collins , Republican candidate for Assembly District 88.
• Patrick Buckley , Republican candidate for Assembly District 89, said he would "support the current system."

Who did not respond to our questions?

• Republican candidates for the 8th Congressional District Andre Jacque, Roger Roth and Tony Wied .
• Eric Wimberger , Republican candidate for Senate District 2
• Jim Rafter , Republican candidate for Senate District 30
• Joel Kitchens , Republican candidate for Assembly District 1.
• Renee Paplham , Democratic candidate for Assembly District 1.
• Shae Sortwell , Republican candidate for Assembly District 2.
• Jane Benson , Democratic candidate for Assembly District 4.
• Greg Sampson , Democratic candidate for Assembly District 5.
• Joy Goeben , Republican candidate for Assembly District 5.
• Shirley Hinze , Democratic candidate for Assembly District 6.
• Benjamin Franklin , Republican candidate for Assembly District 88.
• Christy Welch , Democratic candidate for Assembly District 88.
• Ryan Spaude , Democratic candidate for Assembly District 89.
• Jessica Henderson , Republican candidate for Assembly District 90.

Alyssa N. Salcedo is a reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. She can be reached at asalcedo@gannett.com .

This story is part of the NEW (Northeast Wisconsin) News Lab's fifth series, covering issues important to voters in the region. The lab is a local news collaboration in northeastern Wisconsin made up of six news organizations: the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Appleton Post-Crescent, FoxValley365, The Press Times, Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Watch. The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Journalism Department is an educational partner. Microsoft is providing financial support to the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region to fund the initiative. The mission of the lab is to “collaborate to identify and fill information gaps to help residents explore ways to improve their communities and lives — and strengthen democracy.”

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: With new electoral maps, some hope to bring back driving permits for undocumented immigrants in Wisconsin