Critics at the time blasted california for giving out the licenses, saying they legitimize illegal immigration and make it easier for such immigrants to. More than a million undocumented immigrants have received. These statescalifornia, colorado, connecticut, delaware, hawaii. How to get a driver s license for illegal immigrants. Lets take a look at what it takes to get a license and what that license allows. Undocumented immigrants now allowed to get drivers. Drivers licenses for undocumented targeted by ca plan the. More than one million illegal immigrants living in california have received driver s licenses, according to a new report. California to autoregister drivers to vote, sparking. Should an undocumented immigrant get an ab60 drivers license in.
Ab60 allows undocumented immigrants to get a driver s license. For undocumented immigrants, getting a driver s license could spell trouble with ice in 12 states and washington, d. Undocumented immigrants can lawfully drive in california with an ab 60 license. Citizens would have to provide similar proof to obtain a drivers license or identification card. Undocumented workers can apply for drivers licenses in. Illegal immigrants can get drivers licenses under new. In the state of california, obtaining a drivers license did not require proof of legal presence since the early 1990s. States and dc that allow drivers licenses for people in. Statutes of 20 requires the department to issue an original driver license to an applicant who is unable to submit. You will need a federal compliant card such as a passport, military id, or real id to board a domestic flight or access some federal facilities beginning october 1, 2020. Transcript for undocumented immigrants now allowed to get driver s licenses in california some long lines outside dmvs in california today as a new law taking effect. As of june 2017, california has issued more than 900,000 driver s licenses for undocumented immigrants under assembly bill 60.
The california department of motor vehicles said that, since a law signed by gov. States offering drivers licenses to immigrants ncsl. California issues 1 millionth driver s license to undocumented immigrants. In fact, over the last three years, more than 1 million undocumented immigrants have received california driver s licenses. Two years later, california explicitly committed to require proof of license to state issued drivers licenses by passing senate bill 976. California this spring will begin automatically registering adults who obtain or renew a driver s license to vote, leading to some concern noncitizens and immigrants illegally living in the. The law allows for the issuance of drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants. Jerry brown signed a bill thursday adding california to the growing list of states allowing immigrants living in the. Did california pass a law allowing undocumented immigrants. Immigrants in the country illegally have not been allowed to apply for a drivers license in california since the state began requiring proof of legal presence during the 1990s. States issue drivers licenses under the constitutional authority of the 10th.
Statutes of 20 requires the department to issue an original driver license to an applicant who is unable to submit satisfactory proof of legal presence in the united states. California oks giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. On the day that california officials implemented a controversial law that allows undocumented residents to obtain driver s licenses, dmv offices throughout the state were packed with immigrants. California immigrants can now apply to drive and use their ab 60 license as a legal form of identification in certain situations. More than a million illegal immigrants scored california driver s licenses. In promising to sign the bill allowing illegal immigrants driver s licenses, california gov. These statescalifornia, colorado, connecticut, delaware, hawaii, illinois, maryland, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, new york, oregon, utah, vermont and washingtonissue a license if an applicant provides certain documentation, such as a foreign birth certificate, foreign passport, or consular card and evidence of current residency in the state. Known as an ab 60 license, it is available from the california dmv without a social security number to immigrants who can prove they are california residents. The federation for american immigration reform warned it would lead to more accidents caused by uninsured motorists, and many would be hitandrun. According to a report by the fiscal policy institute, a nonpartisan think tank, more than 752,000 undocumented immigrants would be eligible for driver s licenses.
Can an undocumented person in california get a drivers. For undocumented immigrants, getting a drivers license. The dmv started offering real id driver licenses and id cards on january 22, 2018. Our california criminal and immigration lawyers explain all undocumented aliens need to know about ca drivers licenses. Drivers licenses for illegal immigrants in the united states wikipedia. What undocumented immigrants face with the real id act. Undocumented immigrant drivers licenses top 900,000 in ca. California ab 60 driver s licenses aclu of northern ca. Previous to this bill, drivers licenses were only issued to california residents who could prove their legal presence in the united states, usually by providing a social security number. Motor vehicle commission to create and implement a process for undocumented immigrants to get a driver s license, which has to be done by 2021. Immigrants in the country illegally cannot produce the necessary documents like a social security card to obtain a driver s license under state laws.
So last year, california s legislature passed assembly bill 60 ab60, creating a procedure by which undocumented immigrants can get an official ca driver s license. How to get a drivers license for illegal immigrants. More than a million people are expected to apply for drivers licenses. Undocumented immigrants in california can now drive legally under a new state law. Drivers licenses ab 60 california immigrant policy center. The state would use a multitier system to issue driver s licenses to undocumented immigrants, who would qualify for a license that could not be used for federal identification purposes. Thousands of undocumented immigrants eagerly awaited their chance to apply for a driver s license in california, some in nearfreezing temperatures.
However, california blocked off this access in 1991, by asking all driver license applicants to provide proof of citizenship. California gives drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants. Can an undocumented person in california get a drivers license. California to allow drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. New california law allows immigrants to receive drivers.
Under ab 60, any california resident is able to apply for a driver s license, regardless of immigration status. California gives driver s licenses to undocumented immigrants us immigration by usimmigration. An ab60 license allows an undocumented immigrant to. States and dc that allow drivers licenses for people in the. For more information, view an example of ab 60 california driver license. How drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants would. Undocumented immigrant drivers licenses top 900,000 in ca the. Undocumented immigrants can still get a ca drivers license. Giving undocumented immigrants drivers licenses improves. California grants drivers licenses to 1 million illegal. A field office visit is required to apply for a real id. Midtown, manhattan wabc undocumented workers in new york state are getting a big green light monday they are now allowed to apply for driver s licenses. More than 1 million undocumented immigrants have obtained driver s licenses under a historic state law known as ab 60. Undocumented immigrants can soon get ny driver s licenses.
Granting illegal immigrants driver s licenses will create more angel families lawmakers across the country are prioritizing convenience for illegal immigrants over the safety of. A loophole in the new law granting driver s licenses to illegal immigrants could allow hundreds of thousands of people to fraudulently register to vote in new york, according to critics, the. The law requires the dmv to issue a california drivers license to anyone who can. This law creates the means for an undocumented immigrant to obtain a. For santon leonel, every second he waited in line was. Ca law officers may not arrest or discriminate against a driver who shows them this form of identification. As of july 2015, twelve states and the district of columbia have passed laws allowing unauthorized immigrants to get drivers licenses. Illegal immigrants living in california will be eligible to apply for driver s licenses under a law signed on thursday by democratic governor jerry brown, in the latest action to expand privileges. California driver licenses given to 800,000 undocumented. A california law allowing undocumented immigrants to drive legally actually reduces hitandrun accidents. The california department of vehicles says its issued licenses to. Loophole in law granting illegal immigrants drivers. How undocumented immigrants will get drivers licenses in. Brown said he hoped it would send a message to washington that immigration reform is long past due.
Immigrants in the country illegally were allowed to obtain driver s licenses throughout the u. California opens drivers license applications to illegal. Should an undocumented immigrant get an ab60 drivers. Beginning in 1993 with washington state, states and dc have changed their laws to allow immigrants in the country illegally to obtain driver s licenses. Undocumented immigrants apply for drivers licenses in. California assembly bill 60 ab60 is a bill passed into law that, in effect, allows undocumented immigrants to the united states to apply for a california drivers license with the ca department of motor vehicles dmv. Obtaining a california drivers license does not give you any sort of legal status in the united states. In january of 2015, a new law went into effect in california allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses. The california license for undocumented immigrants looks a lot like the regular driver s license, but it includes a statement on the front that says federal limits apply and, on the back. For the first time, undocumented immigrants living in new york are allowed to apply for a driver s license, cbs2s lisa rozner reported. New california law gives undocumented immigrants drivers.
But recent developments indicate that the california department of motor vehicle dmv will begin accepting applications for ids and driver licenses that are compliant after january 22, 2018. Jerry brown signed a bill thursday adding california to the growing list of states allowing immigrants living in the country illegally to obtain driver s licenses. As of january 1, 2015, undocumented immigrants have been able to get a drivers license in california. Immigrants and allies worked tirelessly to pass assembly bill 60, the safe and responsible drivers act. Dmv to issue a drivers license to any california resident who is eligible, regardless of immigration status. California has granted drivers licenses to more than a million illegal immigrants, the state reported wednesday. Giving undocumented immigrants drivers licenses improves road safety.
More than a million illegal immigrants scored california. Fifteen states and the district of columbia have enacted laws to allow unauthorized. New california law wont allow illegal immigrants to vote alejo said the law has empowered undocumented immigrant drivers who were already on. While its true that undocumented residents living in california can obtain driver s licenses, the state has not passed any laws that also provide them the right to vote. Undocumented immigrants can now get drivers licenses in. In programs first year, nearly half of californias. Driving while undocumented, and facing the risks the new. A state law approved in june to allow undocumented immigrants to apply for driver s licenses. Until recently, california was one of many states that issued driver licenses or identification cards id that were not compliant with the real id act.