California to issue driver licenses to young undocumented immigrants

United States, 23rd August: California is all set to issue driver’s licenses to nearly thousands of young undocumented immigrants.

This special opportunity will be for those immigrants who were not able to make application for driver’s licenses till now.

Driver’s licenses for 400,000 California immigrants—Nearly 400,000 undocumented immigrants living in California will get driver’s licenses under federal deferral policy. This is the biggest number of immigrants getting driver’s licenses in California in the period of last twenty years.

Those applying for deportation deferrals can look forward to gaining a US work permit with the right to stay in the US legally for a period of two years.

California is offering an extended facility for undocumented immigrants applying for federal deferral to get a driver’s license.

Jerry Brown, California Governor has been against the provision of allowing driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.

And such opportunity was not available for undocumented immigrants in California until now.

Driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants—a great step—It appears that undocumented immigrants getting federal deferrals will also be eligible for driver’s license in California, reveals a statement by DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles).

However, it is not certain whether any clarifying regulations will be required, adds the statement. The move is being welcomed as a great step by a large number of undocumented immigrants and will make their lives a lot more easier.

That’s due to the fact that unlike many other US cities including Washington D.C. or New York, California does not have easy public transportation. And by offering the privilege to undocumented immigrants to gain driver’s licenses, California will be making the roads safer.

DACA--US President Barack Obama’s initiative titled DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) provides a rare opportunity for young undocumented immigrants living in the US to gain legal rights of work in the US.

However, to become eligible for the US deferral, immigrants must be between 15 and 31 years, should have no record of criminal offence in the past, should have come to the US before attaining 16 years, possess a US high school diploma or be pursuing the same, and need to have stayed in the US for a minimum period of five years.