Wall Street Journal
By Miriam Jordan
April 6, 2015
Nearly
500,000 immigrants living illegally in California have applied for a
driver’s license since the state started issuing the licenses this year,
twice as many as the
state’s Department of Motor Vehicles had expected by this time.
“The
interest in this program is far greater than anyone anticipated,” said
California DMV Director Jean Shiomoto, adding that the DMV is “on track
to continue at double
the anticipated number of applications.”
In
January, the agency began complying with a new law that allows those
who prove they reside in California to qualify for a license, regardless
of immigration status.
At the time, the DMV said it estimated that 1.4 million undocumented
immigrants would apply for a license in the next three years.
Initially,
many immigrants were hesitant to step forward and apply out of concern
that they might be tracked by federal immigration authorities who would
try to deport
them. But DMV outreach, in conjunction with immigrant organizations and
Spanish-language media, assuaged those concerns, said DMV spokesman
Jaime Garza.
About
40% of the nation’s foreign-born individuals now live in a state that
offers licenses to residents regardless of immigration status. Some
states with large illegal-immigrant
populations, such as Texas and Arizona, don’t issue licenses to
undocumented residents, while Illinois, Maryland and Washington are
among those that do. Supporters say it promotes road safety; critics say
it legitimizes illegal immigrants.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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