Gov. Dave Heineman says Nebraska will vigorously defend a policy that denies driver's licenses to young illegal immigrants, even if the state gets sued by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The Republican governor's comments on Monday came days after ACLU Nebraska threatened a lawsuit against the state, similar to one filed against Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer.

In August, Heineman said Nebraska would deny driver's licenses to illegal immigrants who become eligible to work in the U.S.

Heineman says Nebraska wants legal immigrants, but he disagrees with an Obama administration policy that grants temporary work papers to young illegal immigrants. It's aimed at those who were brought into the country as young children.

Says Heineman: "The liberal ACLU is welcome to sue the state of Nebraska anytime they want."