PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Gov. Ted Kulongoski plans to make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to get Oregon driver's licenses.
     
He signed an order Friday requiring license applicants to have a valid Social Security number or show that they are in the country legally.
     
State officials woill be required to verify the Social Security numbers, something now done only for commercial drivers.
     
"There is an increasing concern, based on ongoing investigations, that Oregon is becoming a safe haven" for unlawfully obtaining identification, said Kulongoski's spokeswoman, Patty Wentz. "We need to quickly change the requirements to more closely match other states."
     
Oregon has been one of seven states that do not require proof of "legal presence" to get a license.
     
Kulongoski's order would limit the kinds of identification the state can accept before issuing a license.
     
"I'm glad he's coming to the party," said Republican state Rep. Kim Thatcher of Keizer. She is working on a proposal for the February legislative session to tighten license rules.
     
Immigration-rights advocates were critical.
     
"This is clearly aimed at undocumented immigrants and not at any sort of national security plan," said Aeryca Steinbauer of Causa, a statewide coalition that advocates for immigrants.
     
Oregon has an estimated 175,000 undocumented immigrants, mostly Latino.
     
Steinbauer said Kulongoski's order will not stop adults from continuing to drive, creating a potential safety problem.
     
The governor supports a secondary "driving only" permit that would allow people without proper documentation to continue to drive legally. That change would require legislative approval, but lawmakers have been reluctant to support it.
     
Utah is the only state that has such a system. New York was considering a second-tier license but dropped it.
     
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)