Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, previously suggested allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. During his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, he argued that denying licenses based on documentation status is discriminatory. “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,” El-Sayed stated in a 2018 interview.
Now, as he seeks a Senate seat, this earlier stance highlights his views on how local governments should interact with undocumented immigrants. It also raises questions about whether state identification for these individuals might legitimize their presence in the U.S.
“Providing them driver’s licenses is a huge step in allowing them to easily live and work in the United States,” said Hans von Spakovsky, an elections expert at Advancing American Freedom.
Spakovsky explained that in the absence of a national ID card, state driver’s licenses effectively serve as ID in many situations. He mentioned that licenses enable people to engage in a range of activities, from opening bank accounts to securing employment—activities that typically require an I-9 eligibility form.
El-Sayed expressed concern in 2018 that illegal aliens might be excluded from these benefits. He stated, “You don’t get access to a lot of the basic things that the state offers everybody else, and I think that’s ridiculous and so we’ve got to stop discriminating that way.”
Describing himself as a proponent of government intervention in important sectors like infrastructure and public services, El-Sayed has promoted policies such as Medicare for all, opposing corporate tax breaks, and supporting tuition-free education.
He remarked, “You’re seeing that kind of resonance here in Michigan for sure. And I’m not surprised that you’re seeing that in New York, too. Government ought to be available to set an equal playing field for everybody and to offer those basic things that everybody needs and deserves.”
El-Sayed did not address whether issuing licenses to undocumented immigrants implies approval of their residency. He is currently competing against Rep. Haley Stevens in the state’s primaries. The winner will proceed to the general election on November 3.