California Grants Licenses To Immigrants Living In US Illegally

By Adrian Florido
October 03, 2013

SAN DIEGO — Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into a law a bill that will allow immigrants living in the United States illegally to get driver's licenses.

AB 60 makes California the tenth state plus D.C. to grant driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

The bill's supporters say licensing undocumented immigrants will make roads safer and put an end to police stops that often result in the confiscation of immigrants' cars or even deportation.

The bill's detractors include conservatives, but also some immigrant advocates angry that the licenses for undocumented immigrants will feature marks that distinguish them from regular licenses.

They fear that will expose immigrants to profiling by law enforcement.

Advocates are now calling on the governor to sign the TRUST Act, a bill passed by the legislature that would limit the ability of local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration officials.