NY immigrant license plan dropped

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A controversial plan to allow illegal immigrants in New York state to carry driving licenses has been dropped.

Some 1 million undocumented immigrants in the state are estimated to drive without a license or insurance.

State governor Eliot Spitzer had hoped that allowing immigrants to carry licenses would improve road safety.

Opponents of the plan said it could encourage people to enter the country illegally, and make it easier for potential terrorists to get ID.

The plan was very unpopular in New York, with a recent Siena College Research Institute poll indicating that 70% of voters were opposed to it.

"It does not take a stethoscope to hear the pulse of New Yorkers on this topic," said Governor Spitzer, as he announced his intention to drop the plan.

"I've listened to the legitimate concerns of the public and those who would be affected by my proposal, and have concluded that pushing forward unilaterally in the face of such strong opposition would be counterproductive," he added.

Clinton criticised

The scheme drew national attention, with Republican and Democratic politicians around the country expressing their opposition to it.

New York Senator and presidential hopeful Hilary Clinton was criticised after a recent debate in which she refused to say whether or not she backed the plan.

She later clarified that she was in favour of the plan in principle, but felt that if the issue of immigration had been successfully addressed at the federal level, then schemes like the one in New York would not be necessary.

President George W Bush attempted to pass a comprehensive package of immigration legislation this summer, but the bill was blocked by congressional Republicans who felt that the plans - which would have created "paths to citizenship" for illegal immigrants - would encourage more people to enter the country.

Immigrant groups were not happy with the governor's decision to abandon the scheme.

"I think we have missed a great opportunity today -- one which would have improved safety on the roads in the state of New York as well as help integrate a million undocumented people," said Javier Valdes, of the New York Immigrants Coalition.