While tens of thousands of immigrants living illegally in the US are preparing to apply for a long-sought driver’s license in California starting on Thursday, others are being urged to think twice.
Immigrant advocates say that the vast majority should be able to get licenses without trouble, but they want anyone who previously obtained a driver’s license under a false name or someone else’s US social security number to first speak with a lawyer, fearing that a new application could trigger a fraud investigation.
The same applies to immigrants with prior deportation orders or criminal records, because US federal immigration officials and law enforcement agencies can access US Department of Motor Vehicles data during probes.
The advice is not meant to frighten immigrants away from seeking licenses meant to make their lives easier — especially because many already risk getting ticketed by driving to work or taking their children to school.
“For the vast majority of people, getting a license is a good decision,” Immigrant Legal Resource Center staff lawyer Alison Kamhi said. “At the same time, I think it is important [that] people are aware [that] there is some risk.”
The nation’s most-populous state is preparing to issue driver’s licenses to immigrants in the US illegally in a bid to make the roads safer and ease fears for more than 1 million people.
California’s program eclipses the scale of those approved in nine other states, including Nevada, Colorado and Illinois.
California expects 1.4 million people to apply for the licenses — which include a distinct marking from those issued to US citizens and residents — over the next three years.
The number of people making license appointments more than doubled to 379,000 during the first two weeks immigrants were allowed to sign up.
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