Tough Stand Likely on ID's. Congress appears ready to discourage driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, tighten rules on asylum and patch a border

House and Senate negotiators agreed to measures that would discourage states from issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, tighten asylum requirements and complete the border fence between California and Mexico, making it all but certain the measures will become law.

The key standard would require every applicant for a driver's license to prove legal residency in the United States.

(5-3-05, Los Angeles Times; 5-3-05 Wall Street Journal online.)