Featured News 2013 California Will Allow Driver’s Licenses for Illegal Immigrants

California Will Allow Driver’s Licenses for Illegal Immigrants

If you are an illegal immigrant in the state of California, a new ruling will now give you permission to test for a driver's license and operate a motor vehicle just like citizens. This ground-breaking decision essentially allows millions of immigrants to obtain their licenses and use them for identification and driving purposes. California authorities believe that this action will help the state, as unlicensed drivers will no longer run the risk of driving on the road.

Up until this law was passed, many illegal immigrants would still operate cars though they were not legally permitted to do so. The bill comes after some last minute changes were made. The California Senate and Assembly voted on the bill late Thursday night and the announcement was made on Friday morning. Governor Brown believes that the bill will enable millions of people to travel to work safely and legally. The California officials also believe that the new law may get Washington's attention and promote the ongoing discussions on immigration reform.

California has the largest immigration population in the United States, and estimates show that about 7 percent of all California residents are in the country illegally. In fact, statistics show that about 2.6 million people in the state are illegal immigrants. Nine states and the District of Columbia currently allow illegal immigrant's drivers licenses. Federal law requires that the licenses indicate that the driver is undocumented.

In California, the licenses will have the initials DP on them, rather than DL. DP stands for driver's privilege, and DL stands for driver's license. This will show that the driver's license does not establish any eligibility for employment or public benefits. California's Department of Motor Vehicles will determine what type of documentation is required to obtain a driver's license.

Some undocumented immigrants were already permitted to get a driver's license under California law if they qualified for temporary federal work permits. The original bill for this debate ruled that immigrants could receive a driver's license if they paid taxes or worked in the United States. Another bill in California discussed whether or not illegal immigrants should be permitted to become lawyers. Earlier this week, another California Senator called on the Republicans in Congress to pass a broader immigration reform.

As more and more states continue to develop new laws in favor of immigration, it will continue to push other states to adopt the same standards. As more and more states permit the use of immigration driver's licenses, it may be a way to encourage comprehensive immigration reform. At present, immigration reform has been put on hold as the government deals with fiscal matters and issues with Syria. Yet when the Congress takes the issue back up, a development in immigration policies in the states could help to push towards reform.

A group of 16 senators from the state are rallying together to demand federal reform of immigration. This is because the immigration situation greatly affects the state of California because of their widespread immigration population. If you want more information about immigration or if you have been arrested and are facing possible deportation, a local immigration attorney can help you. also, if you need help securing a driver's license, a permanent residency card, or have another complication that was created by your status, then talk to an attorney today! With the right attorney on your side, you will be able to use pending and recently passed immigration laws to your benefit. Hire someone who is in the know with constantly changing immigration laws today for more information!

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