Governor Napolitano responded to a federal report that Arizona is lax in driver license security by announcing that state Motor Vehicle Division employees have completed training to better identify false documents that could be used to obtain licenses illegally.

And at the same time she reiterated her support for a proposal to issue Arizona driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.

The U.S. General Accounting Office reported Sept. 9 that over three years, investigators visited agencies in seven states, Arizona among them, and used forged documents to obtain driver’s licenses. The forgeries were created with readily available computer equipment and software, according to the report.

Robert Cramer, director of special investigations for the GAO, told a U.S. Senate committee that “unless action is taken, individuals who want to cause harm can easily exploit these vulnerabilities.”

The report itself has not been made public, however, and Ms. Napolitano called that “frustrating.”

“We cannot get any detail from the GAO as to what exactly they did and what exactly were the gaps they found in the system,” Ms. Napolitano told reporters Sept. 9. She said the GAO told her office details couldn’t be released because of national security concerns.

“That’s obviously not acceptable,” said Ms. Napolitano, who before being elected governor served as state attorney general and before that as U.S. attorney for Arizona. “The GAO itself has put out different data,” she continued. “In one report they say they used valid Social Security numbers, and in another report, they said they were using invalid Social Security numbers. That makes a big difference in terms of trying to track down where exactly we have a gap in the system.”

Ms. Napolitano said the Motor Vehicle Division already has finished training workers on how to better spot forged documents and that the agency has installed a new means of verifying Social Security numbers.

“I know that getting a false ID is not difficult,” Ms. Napolitano said. “I suspect you can ask almost any 16-year-old how to get a false ID.”

Licenses For Illegals?

During the same session with reporters, Ms. Napolitano, a Democrat, reiterated her support for Democrat-sponsored legislation that would allow illegal immigrants to legally obtain driver’s licenses in Arizona. Earlier the week of Sept. 8, California Governor Davis signed a similar measure into law in his state.

Supporters of the legislation say it will require illegal immigrants to take driving examinations and to obtain automobile insurance that they couldn’t get without licenses.

“I have the same position as I had last year [supporting such legislation],” Ms. Napolitano said. “Driver’s licenses are not immigration documents. If that bill passes, I will be happy to sign it.”

To which Arizona 5th District Congressman J.D. Hayworth, a Republican, said, “That simply is nuts. That’s like sending a message to terrorists that they can come to Arizona to get a legitimate license with phony documents.”

Mr. Hayworth said he might support federal legislation that would prohibit states from issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.

“It’s a question of national security,” Mr. Hayworth said.

Sixth District Congressman Jeff Flake on Sept. 10 issued a statement opposing the issuance of licenses to illegal immigrants.

“Clearly, most of the illegal immigrants in Arizona are here to work, not to commit acts of terrorism,” Mr. Flake, a Republican, said. “However, by issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, we would be creating an enormous opportunity for terrorists to live in Arizona under the radar screen.”

U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., said through a spokesman that he also opposes states issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. —