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Utah’s Republican and Democratic leaders say they want assurances residents’ driver license data aren’t being misused

Republican and Democratic leaders from Utah’s Legislature on Tuesday said they will “closely monitor” reports that the state gave federal immigration officials access to driver license records and will take action if need be.

In a joint statement, the lawmakers simultaneously affirmed the importance of personal privacy and expressed confidence in the Utah Department of Public Safety, which maintains the driver information.

"We are eager to learn more of their efforts to ensure personal data of Utahns, including the use of driver's license information for facial recognition searches, are protected from misuse by any agency," Senate President Stuart Adams, House Speaker Brad Wilson, Senate Minority Leader Karen Mayne and House Minority Leader Brian King said in the prepared remarks.