Since 2015, California has issued more than one million driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. The data, published by CalMatters and based on figures from the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), shows that nearly four out of 10 undocumented immigrants in the sanctuary state have obtained a license to legally drive a vehicle. . The requirement of legal residence in the state in order to obtain a driver's license was eliminated seven years ago due to the implementation of the Safe and Responsible Drivers Act (AB 60). Since then, the DMV has issued nearly 1.2 million original AB60 permits to illegal immigrants and has issued more than 822,000 renewals. . In recent years, the number of immigrants applying for licenses has trended downward. Annual data shows that when the law first went into effect, nearly 400,000 immigrants registered for licenses. The following year, another 337,000 applied. From 2017 through 2022, nearly 500,000 illegal residents applied for driver's licenses in California. An estimated 3.3 million illegal aliens reside in the Golden State. . Some experts told Cal Matters that the drop may be because "most people who wanted a license applied for it already." However, others point out that the rule has drawbacks and risks, as immigration enforcement officials can easily access the data and identify the illegals. . Dave Maass, director of research at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said there will always be a risk that someone will misuse the data of undocumented individuals: . In addition to California, 18 other states followed suit in passing legislation in favor of illegal immigration. Last year, Massachusetts voters approved a law granting driver's licenses to 85,000 illegals living in the state. . Driver's licenses for illegals are vital to avoid possible deportation. When local police stop an immigrant driving without a license, it is the first criminal charge that can bring them into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for arrest and removal from the country. . Because of this, in 2013, California lawmakers first passed AB 60 as part of a "broad effort to adopt more inclusive policies toward immigrants, to decriminalize their daily lives and maximize their contributions to the economy." However, it was not until 2015 that the law officially came into force. . This rule gave many illegals a form of official and legal identification. Luis Alejo, a former member of the state Assembly who helped draft the bill, defended the order: . New legislation signed in September 2022 will make other forms of legal identification available to illegal immigrants. These IDs are intended for undocumented persons who do not drive or who cannot take the driving test. Supporters of this measure say that the people who will benefit most are the elderly and disabled. . Shiu-Ming Cheer, deputy director of programs and campaigns at the California Immigrant Policy Center, noted: . In contrast, critics of this type of legislation argue that the results of these laws attract illegal immigration to California, making illegal residents "too comfortable." This, in turn, puts more pressure on the state budget that should be allocated to education and other services.
