Calif. OKs drivers' licenses for some illegal immigrants

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

SACRAMENTO, Calif. Some illegal immigrants could get California drivers licenses under a bill that Gov. Jerry Brown announced he signed into law late Sunday.

AB2189 by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, will let the Department of Motor Vehicles issue licenses to illegal immigrants eligible for work permits under a new Obama administration policy. The bill requires the department to accept as proof of legal residence whatever document the federal government provides to participants in its deferred action program.

Cedillo said his bill will make roads safer while letting young immigrants drive to school and to work. His reasoning drew support from several Republican lawmakers, while other Republicans argued the state should leave immigration issues to the federal government.

"It is a victory for those who were brought here through no choice of their own, played by the rules, and are only asking to be included in and contribute to American society," Cedillo said in a statement.

He said California is the first state to grant drivers' licenses to the group singled out under the Obama administration's policy. Cedillo praised Brown for choosing "public safety over politics" by signing the bill.

"President Obama has recognized the unique status of these students, and making them eligible to apply for driver's licenses is an obvious next step," Brown spokesman Gil Duran said.

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Meanwhile, Brown vetoed AB1081, which could have protected illegal immigrants from deportation if they committed minor infractions. The bill has been dubbed "anti-Arizona" legislation, a reference to that state's immigrant identification law.

The so-called Trust Act would have let California opt out of some parts of a federal program that requires local law enforcement officers to check the fingerprints of people they arrest against a federal immigration database and hold those who are in the country illegally.

It would have barred local law enforcement officers from detaining suspects for possible deportation unless they are charged with serious or violent felonies.

Brown backed comprehensive federal immigration reform, and said in a veto message that federal agents "shouldn't try to coerce local law enforcement officials into detaining people who've been picked up for minor offenses and pose no reasonable threat to their community."

However, he said the list of serious or violent felonies in the bill is "fatally flawed because it omits many serious crimes." He said those include child abuse, drug trafficking, and weapons violations, among others. He promised to work with lawmakers to fix the bill's wording.

California law enforcement officials have turned over about 80,000 illegal immigrants for deportation since 2009, though fewer than half had committed a serious or violent felony. The majority of those deported by the federal government under the Secure Communities program have come from California.

Supporters say the program targets otherwise law-abiding immigrants who commit minor traffic infractions, sell food without a permit or are arrested on misdemeanors charges but never convicted. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, said the program wastes local resources and causes mistrust between immigrants and law enforcement agencies.

Several Republican legislators objected that Ammiano's bill would have removed a valuable tool for ridding California of lawbreakers.

[socorroman48]

They have to show proof of having liability insurance, but ( WAIT ) they may be exempt to have one since they are being given all the Rights we as American have, but will lose them to the illegals; if Obama decides to give them more Rights. I am glad the Arizona Governor has more ( Beach Balls ) then other Governors ( Males ).

[socorroman48]

Most people from Mexico drink at a young age and these people are the ones that will now be able to drive drunk. Before we know it many of them will kill innocent people because they are drunks same as their parents that came drunk to our country. Just wait and see how many of these teens or college students kill Americans by driving drunk. Obama is a traitor to our country and the Democrats kiss his behind every time they see him. These teens were born in Mexico and we all know they drink at a young age because I have seen them in their Fiestas. They walk with three beers in two hands, so they won't run out. The President will be real happy, if ( one of his illegals )and remember they are still illegals kills a 100% American.

[socorroman48]

Most people from Mexico drink at a young age and these people are the ones that will now be able to drive drunk. Before we know it many of them will kill innocent people because they are drunks same as their parents that came drunk to our country. Just wait and see how many of these teens or college students kill Americans by driving drunk. Obama is a traitor to our country and the Democrats kiss his behind every time they see him. These teens were born in Mexico and we all know they drink at a young age because I have seen them in their Fiestas. They walk with three beers in two hands, so they won't run out. The President will be real happy, if ( one of his illegals )and remember they are still illegals kills a 100% American.

[C_Eliot]

This is wonderful news! The faster the dissolution of the US occurs by the importation of poverty, the faster the rich liberals who advocated these things will have their wealth confiscated. I can't wait! Justice---poetic or otherwise---is coming.

[midnightfapper]

The United States is beyond ******.

This place is a third world country, luckily I'm only here for a couple more months and will watch it burn from afar.

[blahblah1235]

VOTE FOR ROMNEY!!!! I don't want Obama's concept of CHANGE.... F that

[ammo17]

as much money the mexican drug cartels have they can buy back california,it wouldn`t take too much money they are mostly democrats in the stae politics.

[Martha12345]

I guess this means the illegals can now fly all over the US, with the government furnished picture ID's. Thanks California.

[iThinksNot]

I guess I'm the only one that thinks this bill would be beneficial to the safety of everyone on the road.. I know a couple of people driving around without a drivers license and there's perhaps thousands out there that don't either. Having them go to the DMV, and assuming they pass, are granted a license wouldn't be such a bad idea. I would rather have thousands of people that have a valid license on the road then thousands who don't.

[blahblah1235]

I'd rather have thousands of people NOT driving on the road, first of all traffics gonna be even more of a beech, gas companies are gonna be having more vacations, LA will be ranked number 1 most polluted cities. I mean having thousands of legal citizens is already bad enough but ILLEGAL immigrants..

[dchave12]

I have a thougth for BLAHBLAH1235, if you don't already know, there are thousands of people who own cars and drive w/out a license out there already. There will hardly be any difference in the amount of cars driving and the amout of gas consumed. Before this the undocumented drivers would just get fined or their cars impounded and have to pay large fees to process their cars and take them out from the impound lot a month later after the incident. Anyway, the people who will be allowed to get their license are students who are just trying to get an edcuation and have have careers. Educated people are what we need in this country since the students of today are our nations future. I'm trying to be optimistic and say that the people in todays universities are the ones who will later solve pollution issues, find the means to stop depending on these oil companies to fuel our cars, and solve road issues to fascilitate traffic in such populated cities.

[tsigili]

Why doesn't Brown just sell California to Mexico? That's what he would like to have.......a Mexican California. Might as well get paid for the LAND!