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NC AG: Immigrants with DACA Can Have Driver’s Licenses

Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate · January 22, 2013 · 1 Comment

In an incredibly short-sighted move, the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) stopped issuing driver’s licenses several months ago to young immigrants who had been granted a two-year work permit under the DACA program. That program, enacted by the Obama administration last year, blocks deportation for young immigrants who came to the U.S. before they turned 16, are not older than 31, have graduated high school or attended college, or served in the military. Under pressure from the public, DMV recently sought and received an opinion by the state Attorney General’s office that confirms the validity of granting the licenses.

A recent article by the Winston-Salem Journal summarizes where things stand today:

“In light of this clear opinion, the DMV should do the right thing and reinstate its policy of granting licenses to all qualified drivers who have received deferred action,” said Raul Pinto, staff attorney for the ACLU-N.C. Legal Foundation. “There is no reason – legal or otherwise – why the DMV should prevent immigrants authorized to live and work in the United States from driving and further contributing to our state and society.”

Moises Serrano, a Yadkin County resident who has applied for deferred action and is an immigrant advocate, said that he was “elated” when he heard about the deputy attorney general’s opinion. But he also cautioned that a broader solution is needed.

“It reinforces the idea that we need more than deferred action. We can’t stay in this limbo wondering if the driver’s license is going be taken away tomorrow. We need comprehensive immigration reform. We need to know what’s going to happen to our community. We need to know what’s going to happen to our parents,” he said.

Click here to read more.

This issue is another example of politics getting in the way of good policy. It’s just common sense that every driver on the roads should take the test and have insurance. As the Charlotte Observer wrote in an editorial last week: “Issuing the driver’s licenses is the sensible thing for North Carolina to do. Under the deferred deportation program announced last June, the immigrants receive two-year work permits. But denying them a driver’s license can cripple their ability to get and keep a job. Lacey Williams, youth program director at the Latin American Coalition, put it aptly: ‘I don’t know who they think will benefit to have this class of people who can now work but cannot drive. It just doesn’t make sense.'”

-Chris Liu-Beers, Program Associate

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Immigration

About Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Chris worked on immigrant rights, farmworker justice, sustainability, worship resources, and the Council's website. He left the Council in 2014 to run Tomatillo Design, a company that builds affordable websites for nonprofits.

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Comments

  1. Chris Liu-Beers says

    February 15, 2013 at 9:17 am

    Breaking news: NC DMV finally agreed to issue these licenses. “We are focused on customer service and committed to improving the quality of life for all North Carolinians,” said NCDOT Secretary Tony Tata. “After weeks of review, study and consultation we’ve found a way to make this right by developing a process that will allow qualified deferred action for childhood arrival applicants to obtain driver licenses, while protecting the rights of all United States citizens.”

    More here: http://www.latinamericancoalition.org/news/61/dmv-approves-licenses-for-daca-recipients

    Reply

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