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SPRINGFIELD — Undocumented immigrants are a step closer to being allowed to have drivers licenses after the Illinois Senate approved the proposal today.

Senators voted 41-14 to approve, helped by support from top Republicans.

“It tends to be a very emotional issue,” said Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont, who voted “yes.”

Not all Republicans supported it, though. State Sen. Dan Duffy, a Lake Barrington Republican, asked constituents on Facebook what they thought about an hour before the vote. He got more than 300 responses, mostly opponents, in that short time.

“I believe the law should be consistent and we should not reward somebody — with a drivers license — for breaking a federal law,” Duffy posted. He voted “no.”

State Sen. Chris Lauzen, an Aurora Republican, criticized his fellow lawmakers for not following federal laws.

“The national government should act first, which then paves the way for this action,” he said.

The special visitors drivers licenses would be a different color than standard drivers licenses and would not be valid for use as identification to buy a gun, buy alcohol or board a plane.

Having a license would require the holder to take written and driving tests, a measure supporters say would make the roads safer for everyone.

“They’re going to drive today. They’re going to drive tomorrow,” said state Sen. John Millner, a Carol Stream Republican and former police chief. “We need to provide the opportunity to obey the law.”

Millner offered a change to the plan, which was accepted, that would create stiffer penalties for someone with a visitors drivers license who doesn’t have auto insurance.

The plan now moves to the Illinois House for further consideration. Lawmakers there could take it up in January.

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