Immigration
See other Immigration ArticlesTitle: 850,000 California illegal alien license holders worry Trump will deport them
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URL Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/today/ind ... celebrated_special_driver.html
Published: Apr 25, 2017
Author: hh
Post Date: 2017-04-25 08:51:48 by HAPPY2BME-4UM
Keywords: None
Views: 40
Once celebrated, special driver's licenses stir anxiety among immigrants in California
Two years ago, driving got less stressful for Aceves and 850,000 other Californians who received driver's licenses under a state law meant to help immigrants living in the country illegally become more integrated into society.
Over the past decade, California has taken several steps to bring immigrants without legal status into the mainstream, including health care for the young and financial aid for college students.
But President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration has made those license holders anxious. Many of them worry that the cards will be used to identify them as being here illegally and lead to deportation. That has prompted some to avoid getting the licenses, despite assurances from the Department of Motor Vehicles that it will not share information with immigration officials.
In California, the decision to give driver's licenses to immigrants here illegally was hotly debated, and it took more than a decade to get the law passed. Critics continue to argue that it has legitimized illegal immigration, and it remains unclear whether it will be challenged by the Trump administration.
But critics such as Hans von Spakovsky of the conservative Heritage Foundation say issuing the licenses to such immigrants legitimizes their presence in the country and makes it easier for them to stay. Even though the license looks different and has specific limitations, von Spakovsky said, it "makes it easier for them to use this government-issued ID for many illegal purposes, such as applying for government benefits or registering to vote."
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