Portland.
This first day of 2021, the laws that allow undocumented immigrants to enter the states of Oregon and Virginia obtain driving licenses for vehicles.
Now that it is no longer necessary to prove U.S. citizenship or legal residence in the U.S., obtaining a driver’s license in Oregon requires an application to the Ministry of Transport (DMV) confirm proof of identity and date of birth and residency in Oregon.
The applicant must also demonstrate payment of the corresponding fees and have passed the driving test, with the option of submitting a written statement that they have not been assigned a Social Security number if they do not have one.
Unlike other driver’s licenses, driver’s licenses for citizens without legal immigration status are not eligible for automatic voter registration.
In Virginia, applicants must present one ID, two proof of residence, the documentation of last year’s tax return, or are indicated as dependent on an income statement in this state, plus a vision test. The license it must be renewed every two years.
Permits issued in both states will not meet the federal Real ID standard for personal identification, which, among other things, allows boarding of airplanes.
The defenders of both states agree that it is important that undocumented migrants have the right to be able to take their children to school and to develop a normal life without the pressure of not having a driver’s license, which increases road safety.
These laws protect undocumented migrants who apply for driving licenses from immigration authorities, to which no information will be provided.
The bad news came this week from the state of New Jersey, which passed the same legislation in December 2019 to start the process in January 2021, but has indefinitely suspended the issuing of driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.
The alleged reason is due to the lack of a plan and computer resources capable of implementing the standard due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to sources from the New Jersey Motor and Vehicle Commission (NJMVC).