IMMIGRANTS & DRIVER'S LICENSES

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Immigration

Employment Issues

Public Benefits

Driver's Licenses

DREAM Act

 

 


Resources for Advocates

 

Driver's License Resource Guide (created 2/08)

 

FACT SHEET: Why Denying Driver’s Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants Harms Public Safety and Makes Our Communities Less Secure.  Denying undocumented immigrants licenses is simply bad public policy.  It increases uninsurance rates and the number of unlicensed drivers, and it undermines effective law enforcement. (PDF) (1/08)

 

Comparison of Application Requirements for U.S. Passport and REAL ID Driver's License (chart - PDF) (10/05)

 

The Tennessee Driving Certificate: Background, Pitfalls, and Lessons Learned (Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition) (PDF) (6/05)

 

The Tennessee "Driving Certificate": Not a Model Policy (PDF) (3/05)

 

TALKING POINTS: Why the Federal Government Should Not Place Immigration Status Restrictions on Driver's Licenses (PDF) (1/05)

 

Driver's Licenses for All Immigrants: Quotes from Religious Organizations and Leaders (PDF) (12/04)

 

Driver's Licenses for All Immigrants: Quotes from Law Enforcement (PDF) (10/04)

 

State Driver's License Legislation & Requirements

 

A Retreat from Safety: NILC statement regarding New York governor’s announcement that he will rescind his driver’s license proposal (11/15/07)

 

REAL ID: 2007 State REAL ID Legislation (updated 4/23/07) (PDF)

 

2006 State Driver's License Legislation (updated 1/30/07) (PDF)

 

Overview of States' Driver's License Requirements (updated 4/27/09) (PDF)

 

Federal Driver's License Legislation

REAL ID

Resources from NILC

 

Questions and Answers about Driver’s Licenses Now That Final REAL ID Regulations Have Been Issued (PDF) (posted 2/28/08)

 

REAL ID Proposed Regulations: Comments submitted by NILC to Dept. of Homeland Security, May 2, 2007 (PDF) (posted 5/3/07)

 

NILC STATEMENT: Ill-Considered, Inflexible REAL ID Act Will Harm Non–U.S. Citizens and U.S. Citizens Alike (PDF) (posted 5/12/05)

 

Summary of the Driver's License Provisions in the REAL ID Act of 2005 as Made Part of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief (PDF) (posted 5/19/05)

 

TALKING POINTS: Why the REAL ID Act's Driver's License Restrictions Are Really Anti-Immigrant (PDF) (5/9/05)
 

Other Resources

 

Three Years Later: A Primer on REAL ID (Center for Democracy and Technology, 8/28/08).  This primer is presented in three parts: (1) The REAL ID Act Repealed the Promising Negotiated Rulemaking Process; (2) REAL ID Poses Serious Privacy and Security Risks; (3) Congress Must Act to Address the Problems With REAL ID.

 

Resources from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

 

The Real ID Act: National Impact Analysis.  Based on a nationwide survey of DMVs conducted by the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (PDF) (posted 9/25/06)

 

TALKING POINTS: The REAL ID Act Is a Really Bad Idea (PDF, prepared by the National Council of La Raza) (3/05)
 

OTHER FEDERAL LEGISLATION

 

Senate Colloquy of Driver's License Provisions in Intelligence Reform Bill (PDF) (12/04)

 

Summary of the Driver's License Provisions in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act (PDF) (12/04)

 

Driver's Licenses, 9-11, and Intelligence Reform (9/11 Public Discourse Project fact sheet) (The 9/11 Public Discourse Project is a nationwide public education campaign created by the ten members of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (known as the 9/11 Commission). (PDF)(posted: 12/6/04)
 


Immigrants' Rights Update Articles (back to IRU index)

 

Final REAL ID Regulations Fail to Ease New Burdens on Immigrants (2/27/08)

 

Anti-REAL ID Measures Enacted in Five States So Far (4/25/07)

 

Maine Rejects REAL ID Act; Other States Considering Similar Legislation (2/20/07)

 

Bill Would Repeal Driver’s License Provisions of REAL ID Act (2/20/07)

 

Two Driver’s License Advocacy Tools Updated (2/20/07)

 

"Overview of States' Driver's License Requirements" Chart Updated (12/6/06)

 

Twenty-four states introduce driver's license bills (3/23/06)

 

Tennessee suspends "certificates for driving" (3/23/06)

 

Indiana court strikes down rule requiring state driver's license applicants to prove lawful immigration status (10/5/05)

 

Resolutions critical of REAL ID adopted by Santa Fe and the American Library Association, and introduced in New York City Council (10/5/05)

 

Driver's license strategy meeting focuses on REAL ID–related issues (10/5/05)

 

28 states consider driver's license bills in 2005 (10/5/05)

 

REAL ID Enacted: Imposes Rigid Driver's License Requirements (6/30/05)

 

NY Court Enjoins State's Refusal to Renew Driver's Licenses of Certain Immigrants (3/31/05)

 

REAL ID Act Sent to Senate in "Must Pass" Emergency Appropriations Bill (3/31/05)

 

Utah Creates "Driving Privilege Card" for Applicants without SSNs (3/31/05)

 

Real ID Act of 2005 Reintroduces DL Provisions Stripped from Last Year's 9/11 Commission Implementation Bill (2/10/05)

   

 See IRU index for newsletter articles published before 2005.

   
   
   
   

 

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