Nebraska warns of fake licenses being sold to illegal immigrants

State officials in Nebraska were warning Monday of a scheme to sell fake driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, under the promise that the documents will let people legally drive, buy and sell cars. A Houston-based company has taken out ads in newspapers and distributed fliers to Hispanic businesses in Omaha, Grand Island and Lincoln, offering so-called international licenses and state ID cards for about $200.

“We see these so-called ‘fantasy documents’ or … ‘novelty documents’ fairly frequently,” said Tim Counts, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman. “It’s unfortunate, but I think (it is) another example of the pitfalls that await those that enter the country illegally.” While the claims can be deceptive, Counts said, it was unclear whether businesses that sold them were in violation of federal laws.