"The driving licenses of tens of thousands of noncitizens in New York State, many of them illegal immigrants, may be at stake at a court hearing today that examines whether the motor vehicles commissioner exceeded his authority last year by starting a sweeping crackdown on license fraud," the New York Times reports. "Supporters of the state's crackdown on license fraud, who cite the need to keep criminals and terrorists from exploiting weaknesses in the system of issuing identity documents, are also watching. Lawyers for the state argued in court papers that state law gives the commissioner broad power and discretion to verify the documentation of identity before issuing a license. Demanding proof of 'legal presence' in the United States from those without a Social Security number is 'a valid and reasonable requirement' within that authority, because only valid, current immigration documents can be electronically verified with the Department of Homeland Security through a database known as SAVE, they contend."

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