Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s Stance on Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate running for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, once advocated for undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, arguing that denying them this opportunity would be discriminatory. In a 2018 campaign interview, El-Sayed stated, “We’ve got to make sure that in this state we are not discriminating against documentation status. Right now, if you’re undocumented, you don’t get access to a driver’s license. You’re stuck.” At that time, he was campaigning for governor.

As he pursues a Senate seat, past views on how local governments should interact with illegal immigrants resurface. This raises questions about whether granting driver’s licenses might legitimize their presence in the country. Hans von Spakovsky, an expert from Advancing American Freedom, highlighted that licenses often serve as a substitute for national ID cards in the U.S., facilitating access to numerous government-related benefits and services.

“Providing them driver’s licenses is a huge step in allowing them to easily live and work in the United States,” Spakovsky explained. He pointed out that employment-related paperwork, like I-9 forms, typically require only a license.

El-Sayed expressed concern in 2018 that denying licenses meant illegal immigrants lacked access to basic state services. “You don’t get access to a lot of the basic things that the state offers everybody else, and I think that’s ridiculous,” he emphasized.

El-Sayed, although rejecting labels such as “progressive,” has supported more government involvement in areas like health care, infrastructure, and education. He advocates for Medicare for all, opposes corporate tax advantages, and supports tuition-free higher education.

El-Sayed was questioned about the extent of government services that should be available to non-residents. His campaign declined to comment on this or on whether issuing licenses might be seen as tacit approval of undocumented immigrants’ presence in the U.S. He competes against Rep. Haley Stevens in the state’s primaries, with the winner moving on to the November general election.