155,000 standardize IDs and driver's licenses have been issued for non U.S. citizens.

>> Citizens in the last 5 months, it's part of a new state law that went into effect in July, replacing the temporary visitor driver's license backers of the law said that better open noncitizens up to discrimination.

Here to talk more about the application process and what this is, what new is with this new ad I'm sorry is Barbara Hernandez, State representative who represents the 50th District.

Thank you, Barbara, for joining us.

I want to start off.

It's been 5 months as we know.

Would you say has exceeded expectations.

>> Yeah, I would say it's been very successful and I'm very glad that we were able to Pappas in 2023. now, like you said, it's enacted in.

We just received a lot of amazing feedback from individuals individuals are applying for those the Standard ID and also the driver license.

How would you say has become a game-changer in some way?

>> Well, many families and in the past they had a an idea that the banner, the Purple banner that unfortunately they can not use that identification.

So because of this, they couldn't get the prescription drugs from a doctor's visit.

They couldn't I for rent or even mortgage.

They couldn't get bank account.

But now because that this obstacle was removed, they're able to do all of that, which is a great opportunity afforded that the families and also for Illinois to have streets become safer, but not really I that, but also be able to bring back to the economy and by purchasing a home having a bank account.

And like I said, just being able to take care of their health.

>> And you're really talking about the basics that people need to survive.

Not I I mean, I didn't know that.

That's that you couldn't do those things because of that better in the ad.

>> Yes, it's unfortunate.

Back 2014 when the original bill was created, only had no identification purposes simply for an officer.

So if you get pulled over you can use it and that way or for an officer to kind of have your identification, however, for anything else, you really couldn't use it.

>> Ken, the licenses be used to register to vote That's how does that work?

They cannot.

>> Know under this bill that we crafted in 2023, we did a lot provision that to prevent individuals from registering to vote, we change the system to make sure the privacy of the individual is also very safe.

So that's something that we were able But in the bill, like I said 2023, it's working.

We are seeing it right now.

I haven't heard any case, but I know there's there's a lot of out there, a lot of lies misinformation.

But no, this is something that we created thinking about potential issues that may arise and break it down.

For me who is eligible to apply?

>> What does the process look like?

>> And the vigils who are undocumented can apply.

But of course, they do need to provide some certain that identification.

But that could come from their home country.

So expire passport.

with that I've sort of ID a few people work of residency in Illinois, saw pretty much the same things that we need bring.

So Bill staying something that has your address on it.

All of those items are acceptable.

And why was important for you to push for this?

>> As for me, it something that hit home my family with and document the for 21 years.

So and how my parents struggled to be able to drive legally and this country during those 21 years and still having to be able to go a job and they were scared to get pulled over at any moment.

That was very hard for me the and I know a lot of families are going through that now even before.

So it's something that I know that we needed establish an Illinois and just move on with what we with the risk residents that are here.

They want to do a better.

have job and be able to just help families saying that.

So it's that's why it's very important.

just comes straight from home for >> And representative, have you seen any hasn't hesitancy to apply over concerns this would potentially put them on immigration agencies, radars.

>> It is something that I know we were concerned about and that's why we were able to put a provision that any public, any information that the secretary of state had.

someone wants to risk get the information of an individual that her son on that, it's him.

May have to subpoena.

They have to do a court order or a warrant or this information and they cannot give it to So that is a provision that we were able to add for safety for those family.

>> With that also work as we as we know what we've heard.

You know, Tom Homan has said of Mayor Johnson implements ICE efforts to deport undocumented immigrants.

He plans to prosecute him.

Is there a concern for state officials?

>> That is something I would leave to the governor our attorney general to figure out look a lot legal aspect of that.

I think there's always going to be a concern on on our end and how we do our job in making sure that we protect our families.

But my priority for me, I'm I'm not worried about that.

I'm I'm just worried about those that very vulnerable and state and we're just trying to make sure that we protect them.

>> You talked about your family.

You talked about that experience of having, you know, to dry without having a license and that fear that people might have, you know, what opportunities will these ideas create for for immigrants?

Would you say?

>> It would be safe or Safer Street community.

>> Advance and so on.

just give us mind of be able to really be relax a little bit more on this issue because I know a lot of people being discriminated >> against because they had a purple line and that meant something different than a standard ID.

But it's just clear in people's mind on this and being able to to help our community.

Like I said, it's it's going to be very impact in our community and to just be successful to be.

Able to help those and I'm just glad that I was able to be the