CHICAGO - When Illinois' top political leaders touted a proposal to allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses, it was painted as public safety measure and had the backing of immigrant rights advocates, who deemed it a positive step in the fight for immigration reform.

However, the idea has run into some resistance among illegal immigrants themselves.

For many of Illinois' estimated 250,000 undocumented residents of driving age, volunteering an address, photograph and birth certificate to a state database seems like a risk, possibly more than driving without a license.

"They will have my record, maybe one day they (authorities) will just stop me,'' said 19-year-old Faviola Villagomez, who was brought illegally to the U.S. from Mexico as a child. The Chicago college student said she'd be hesitant to apply because it could make her and her six siblings -- none of whom are citizens -- more easily identifiable for deportation.