These Are The 19 States That Grant Driver's Licenses…

These Are The 19 States That Grant Driver's Licenses to Undocumented Migrants

There are currently 19 states that allow undocumented migrants to obtain driver's licenses, permits, or authorization. "These states have passed laws that allow immigrants, regardless of their immigration status, to obtain a driver's license or permit," says Spokane, WA immigration lawyer Hector Quiroga, who himself, is an immigrant from Colombia.

These states are:

California: by law: AB 60, 2013.
Colorado: by law SB 13-251, 2014.
Connecticut: through Public Act 15-5, 2015.
Delaware: Law passed in 2023.
Hawaii: Law passed since 2015.
Illinois: Law: SB 957, 2013.
Maryland: Law passed in 2013.
Massachusetts: Law passed in 2023
Minnesota: Law passed in 2023
Nevada: Law passed in 2013 for driving authorization cards.
New Jersey: Law passed in 2019 (Green Light Law).
New Mexico: Law since 2003.
New York: Green Light Law, passed in 2019.
Oregon: Law passed in 2019.
Rhode Island: Law passed in 2014.
Utah: Law passed in 2005
Vermont: Law passed in 2019.
Virginia: Law passed in 2020
Washington: Law since 2014
District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.): Law: Law since 1999

Quiroga also notes that while in some states, undocumented migrants are allowed to get driver's licenses, they might come with different rules and restrictions from other driver's licenses. In California, Nevada, and Washington, some of the most populous states in the country, restrict licenses from being used for "federal purposes."

"Licenses with restrictions: In some of the states mentioned, licenses issued to undocumented immigrants may be different from standard licenses. For example: Nevada and Washington issue driving authorization cards that cannot be used for federal purposes, such as identification for boarding airplanes, but are valid for driving within the state. California also issues licenses to undocumented immigrants under AB 60, which may be clearly labeled as "not valid for federal identification," but which allow legal driving in the state."

Newark, NJ immigration attorney Eric Mark, who is licensed in New York and New Jersey also added, "I am licensed in NJ and NY and both states offer driver's licenses without proof of immigration status. Commercial driver's licenses are subject to greater restrictions."

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