Bernie Moreno Lashes Out Against ‘Drive-Only’ Licenses for Illegal Immigrants

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, is taking issue with “drive-only” licenses for illegal immigrants in other states, and the deadly effects they have on Ohioans, including the recent death of a 29-year-old from Fayette.

In a letter Tuesday to Gov. Ned Lamont, D-Conn., Moreno lamented the death of Austin J. Karr Grimes, expressing his outrage over these “drive-only” licenses.

Citing an ABC 13 Action News article from last week, Moreno’s letter detailed the death of Karr Grimes, as well as others injured, including a 3-year-old child. Washington G. Naula Ochoa, 34, has been charged with vehicular homicide.

According to the report, Naula Ochoa “failed to yield at a stop sign.” His “truck entered the intersection and struck a southbound SUV driven by” Karr Grimes, who “lost control of the SUV, which went off the west side of the road and overturned. Karr Grimes died at the scene, troopers said.”

Despite Naula Ochoa’s lack of legal status, he was given a “drive-only” license by Connecticut, to Moreno’s outrage.

“If it were not for policy you championed, which allows illegal aliens to receive a ‘drive-only’ license, this young man may have reached his destination,” Moreno wrote to Lamont, referencing Karr Grimes. “Despite his lack of legal status, Connecticut issued him a driver’s license. Horrifyingly, Connecticut not only permits illegal aliens to receive a driver’s license, but encourages it, all while Americans pay the ultimate price. Quite simply, your policies are killing my constituents.”

His letter adds more context about this program, with the number of those granted such licenses not being insignificant.

“Connecticut has issued nearly 60,700 ‘drive-only’ licenses to illegal aliens. This represents nearly 61,000 additional opportunities for illegal aliens to harm and kill American citizens on our interstate highways,” Moreno continued. “You should be ashamed of this policy and its dangerous consequences, yet your support for illegal aliens knows no bounds.”

Moreno also takes issue with Lamont’s advocacy for getting rid of the “drive-only” label.

“Just two years ago, you advocated for the removal of the ‘drive-only’ marking on these licenses to help make illegal aliens’ licenses nearly indistinguishable from those of United States citizens,” he wrote. “Republicans in Connecticut rightfully raised significant concerns that this proposal could result in illegal aliens casting a ballot.”

In a response to the Daily Signal, Lamont expressed his condolences to Karr Grimes’ family. “My heart goes out to the family and friends of Austin J. Karr Grimes, and to all families who lose a loved one to a motor vehicle accident. Drivers must be held accountable for violating traffic laws, especially when it causes a tragic loss of life,” he said.

The governor also offered a defense of the “drive-only” license.

“States including Connecticut offer drive-only licenses to undocumented residents to help ensure all drivers are trained, tested, and know the rules of the road. This reduces hit-and-run accidents and brings more drivers into the insurance system who might otherwise be driving uninsured. Undocumented residents in many states already need to drive for work, school, and daily life; it’s safer for everyone when that driving happens within a regulated system,” he added.

While Connecticut may be one of 19 states plus the District of Columbia that offer such licenses, Ohio is not one of them.

“Ohio is one of many states that requires anyone applying for a driver’s license to confirm their legal status in our country,” Moreno wrote, with a message for Lamont. “I strongly suggest that you consider joining the vast majority of states that have adopted this common-sense requirement before another American citizen becomes the victim of vehicular manslaughter or is gravely injured by an illegal alien.”

The Daily Signal reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for a response on the matter, but did not hear back in time for publication.

The senator asked for an apology from the governor to the victim’s family and also requested, within five days, answers to a series of questions about the licenses, including how many “drive-only” licenses Connecticut has granted, how many illegal immigrants with those licenses have committed a crime, how many of those illegal immigrants have voted and/or registered to vote, and the cost to taxpayers of issuing “drive-only” licenses to illegal immigrants.

Moreno has previously raised concerns about illegal immigrants allegedly causing the deaths of other Ohioans, as he did in late April with Modou Ngom, an illegal immigrant alleged to be responsible for a deadly incident earlier that month in the state.

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