D.C., Maryland Join List of States Issuing Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Residents
Even amidst frustration with the federal government’s inability to move forward with comprehensive immigration reform before the end of 2013, the immigrant communities in Maryland and Washington D.C. have recently won a smaller battle. As of January 1, 2013, in Maryland, and May 1, 2013, in D.C., undocumented individuals will become eligible to apply for state-issued driver’s licenses.
D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray signed a bill on November 18 that will allow the DMV in the nation’s capital to issue licenses to individuals without requiring proof that they are here legally. Likewise, Maryland passed the Maryland Highway Safety Act of 2013 this spring, which will allow undocumented residents of Maryland to do the same.
The new driver’s license provisions in D.C. and Maryland will have a profound impact on the immigrant community in the area. Living in commuter regions like ours without the ability to drive legally presents a major obstacle to immigrants and their families. In many cases, the inability to obtain a driver’s license can result in parents being unable to provide transportation for their U.S. citizen children and can create great obstacles to finding and maintaining employment.
Further, prohibiting undocumented individuals from obtaining licenses means that there will always be a subset of the population which is simply forced to drive without legal authorization. Drafters of the license legalization bills in D.C. and Maryland hope that the new rules will reduce the number of hit-and-run incidents in the region, and ensure that more vehicles are subject to emissions testing and safety regulations.
The licenses will be valid for driving and state identification purposes only, and holders won’t be able to use them to board planes, vote, or access any other type of federal benefit. However, as many undocumented immigrants know, they will still provide great peace of mind to those who simply want to live and work to provide for their families in the region.
If you have questions about how to obtain a driver’s license in D.C. or Maryland, feel free to contact our team of immigration attorneys.