Illegal immigrant license logjam, schemes uncovered by I-Team

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The I-Team investigated the newly-implemented law allowing undocumented immigrants in Illinois to get a driver's license. The issue is many who qualify for the license cannot get it.

Authorities say at least 250,000 illegal immigrants are already driving in Illinois without a license. A new controversial law makes it possible for those drivers to get a legal driver's license, but only if they can get one of the coveted appointments required to apply.

Demand for the limited number of spots is so sky high that officials tell the I-Team some undocumented immigrants were victims in an "appointments-for-sale" scheme.

Alex Campos has been trying for months to get an appointment to apply for a temporary visitor driver's license.

"Maybe in a week I try 10 times. I call, nobody picks up the phone," said Campos, an undocumented immigrant.

Campos says he has also tried endless times online.

"It's been difficult because every time I try to get an appointment everything is taken," said Campos.

Lisa Grau is the director of the temporary driver's license program at the Illinois Secretary of State's office.

"There's anywhere between 250,000 to 500,000 people in the state of Illinois that are interested in obtaining this license," said Grau.

Nearly 90,000 illegal immigrants have either signed up for an appointment or have already received a license.

"We knew the demand was going to be great, and it still is. It's probably going to take us three years to get to everyone," said Grau.

Appointments are available at 36 facilities statewide, including this one on the city's Northwest Side. Applicants must prove they have lived in Illinois for at least a year and must provide a valid passport or consular ID card from their native country.

VIEW INTERNAL RECORDS OBTAINED BY THE I-TEAM: 1, 2, 3, 4

Internal records obtained by the I-Team lay out the Secretary of State's policy for handling illegal immigrants who have arrest warrants against them. Unless there is a "criminal felony warrant", or the license applicant's name appears on a "terrorist watch list", the Secretary of State will not contact immigration investigators.

The Highway Safety Coalition says unlicensed drivers are involved in almost 80,000 accidents in the state each year, resulting in $660 million in damages- $64 million of that is attributed to unlicensed immigrant drivers.

"By having these individuals come in and take our tests and pass our tests, and qualify for insurance, it's a win-win for everybody," said Grau.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights fought for this law for more than a decade and helped write the legislation. The organization says many members have received the licenses, but some were duped into paying for what is supposed to be a free appointment to apply for the license.

"There were some unscrupulous entities that were taking up all the appointments. We had reports from community members that driving schools would be offering up appointments and would charge individuals hundreds of dollars and say 'we will get you an appointment,'" said Ruth Lopez, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

The Illinois Attorney General's office tells the I-Team it is investigating complaints of driving schools charging people for an appointment.

The temporary license has a purple border and is renewable every three years. If an undocumented immigrant with this type of license is pulled over, there is nothing on it that identifies the driver's immigration status.

"Everybody's information is protected by the driver's license privacy act. We have no intention of turning over any information to anyone," said Grau.

That is a relief to Campos, who says he hopes his persistence will pay off.

"I want to keep trying to see if I can get it," said Campos.

"I would say definitely attempt online. Every morning at 9 a.m., a new day of appointments opens up. There's no limit on how many licenses we're willing to issue," said Grau.

Illinois is one of 10 states that recently passed laws to offer licenses to undocumented immigrants, and is the largest state to implement the program so far.

Authorities tell the I-Team they are concerned illegal immigrants may be hesitant to file complaints with the government because of their immigration status. Both the Secretary of State and the Attorney General say they want to know about anybody asking for cash in exchange for an appointment to get the license.

Additional information:

Anyone who wants to report questionable conduct within the Secretary of State's Office should contact the SOS Inspector General's Office at(630) 424-2564 or submit a complaint online at http://reportitnow.net/.

Other complaints can be sent to the Illinois Attorney General's Office at http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/about/email_consumers.jsp or call Consumer Fraud Hotlines:

1-800-386-5438 (Chicago)

1-800-243-0618 (Springfield)

1-800-243-0607 (Carbondale)

Linea Gratuita en Espanol

1-866-310-8398

Website to sign up for TVDL appointment:

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/TVDL/home.html