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U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., in a Fox News interview claimed that Democrats are wrongly trying to portray Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as a moderate.
Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, "is a radical progressive," who wants "open borders," Donalds said Aug. 6.
"Tim Walz signed into law driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants in Minnesota, he wanted health care for illegal immigrants in Minnesota, this guy is incredibly left-wing," Donalds said.
Donalds repeated his claim on X, listing things that he said represented "The real Tim Walz."
U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., and social media posts on TikTok and X repeated similar claims about Walz’s record.
On March 7, 2023, as Minnesota governor, Walz signed H.F. 4, a bill that expanded access to driver’s licenses to people in the state, regardless of their immigration status. State House and Senate Democrats broadly supported the measure, and only one House Republican supported it.
This law reversed a 2003 order by former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty that barred the state from issuing licenses to people who were in the country illegally.
Walz said in March 2023 that the bill would make roads safer and that he was a "longtime supporter of this bill."
"Ensuring drivers in our state are licensed and carry insurance makes the roads safer for all Minnesotans," Walz said.
READ MORE: Politifact FL: Who is Tim Walz? What to know about Kamala Harris’ new running mate
PolitiFact contacted Donalds’ office, but got no response. The Harris-Walz campaign did not comment. The Minnesota governor’s office did respond, either.
About 81,000 people are living illegally in Minnesota, the Migration Policy Institute, a think tank, estimates. Minnesota’s population is about 5.7 million people.
2023 law
The law took effect Oct. 1, 2023, and it lets immigrants lacking permanent legal status obtain a standard Minnesota driver’s license or identification card.
To obtain a driver’s license, people must:
- Present two identifying documents, such as an unexpired international passport or a foreign birth certificate, a consular card or evidence of current Minnesota residency.
- Attest that they live in Minnesota.
- Pay the license or ID legal fees.
- Pass a written test on the rules of the road and a driving skills test.
Minnesota is the most recent state to pass this type of legislation. The District of Columbia and 18 other states, including California, Colorado and New York, have also enacted laws to let people illegally in the U.S. obtain driver’s licenses.
Our ruling
Donalds said, "Tim Walz signed into law driver's licenses for illegal immigrants in Minnesota."
That’s correct. Walz signed a bill in 2023 expanding access to driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status in Minnesota.
Minnesota is one of 19 states that lets people illegally in the country apply for a driver’s license.
We rate Donalds’ claim True.
Our Sources
- DPS.MN, Driver’s License for All Frequently Asked Questions, accessed Aug. 7, 2024
- Minnesota Reforfer, Study: Undocumented immigrants paid $222 million in Minnesota taxes in 2022, July 30, 2024
- DPS.MN, Primary Documents, accessed Aug. 7, 2024TikTok post, Aug.6, 2024NCSL, States Offering Driver’s Licenses to Immigrants, accessed Aug. 7, 2024
- Fox News, Harris-Walz is a ‘very dangerous’ ticket: Rep. Byron Donalds, Aug. 6, 2024 X post, Aug. 6, 2024Office of Governor Tim Walz, Governor Walz Signs Bill Expanding Access to Driver’s Licenses, March 7, 2023
- Minnesota Legislature, Minnesota Session Laws - 2023, Regular Session, accessed Aug. 7, 2024X post, Aug. 6, 2024Email interview with Mark Karstedt, Communications Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Aug. 7, 2024
- Tim Walz’s immigration record in Minnesota shows support for sanctuary policies‘Sanctuary state’ Gov. Tim Walz gave illegal migrants taxpayer-funded health care, tuition, driver’s licensesMinnesota House passes bill to give driver’s licenses to undocumented residents
- DPS.MN, Driver’s License For All, accessed Aug. 7, 2024
- Washington State Legislature, HB 1444 - 1993-94, accessed Aug. 8, 2024
- ACLU, Driver's Licenses for All, accessed Aug. 8, 2024
- Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, Driver’s Licenses for All: Passes Minnesota Senate!, Feb. 22, 2023
- Utah State Legislature, S.B. 227 Public Safety Driving Privilege and Identification Card Amendments, accessed Aug. 8, 2024
- Fox News, Byron Donalds: Trump spoke about getting our country back on track, June 13, 2024
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