This number continued to increase in the following months.
(meta data) TITLE: California driver licenses given to 800,000 undocumented immigrants (meta data) PUBLISHED DATETIME: 2016-12-28 15:04:43 GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. The Mercury News #### DMV licensed 800,000 undocumented immigrants Trending: Missing hiker Getting to Stones show Foster City police chief Yastrzemski making history SJ double shooting Inside Pavelski's house # DMV licensed 800,000 undocumented immigrants under 2-year-old law By Tatiana Sanchez | tsanchez@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News GroupPUBLISHED: December 28, 2016 at 3:04 pm | UPDATED: December 30, 2016 at 9:07 amvar _ndnq = _ndnq || []; _ndnq.push(['embed']); On the day that California officials implemented a controversial law that allows undocumented residents to obtain driver's licenses, DMV offices throughout the state were packed with immigrants looking to take advantage of the opportunity. ## Related Articles California leads lawsuit against Trump immigration rule Report: Separated at the border, abused in foster care Political Cartoons: Bay Area counties sue after Trump administration's immigration crackdown Claims: Migrant kids split at border harmed in foster care Letter: Is ignoring visa overstays racist? Two years after the implementation of AB 60 on Jan. 1, 2015, an estimated 806,000 undocumented residents have received driver's licenses, according to Department of Motor Vehicles statistics this month. About 14,000 of these licenses were issued in November alone, the DMV said. The law has allowed undocumented residents to come out of the shadows and drive safely in their neighborhoods, according to Maricela Gutierrez, executive director of the immigration advocacy organization, SIREN. "Many of them have been able to drive their kids to school and to run errands, when many times they were taking buses that would take them up to three hours to get from point A to point B," she said. "It opened up new opportunities." One San Jose resident who applied for a license just a few days after AB 60 went into effect received his license in the mail shortly after. "It's a completely different feeling because you no longer have to worry about seeing a police car," said the 46-year-old, who asked to be identified only by his first name, Ramon. "You're much more at peace when you drive. You can drive long distances with your family — to Disneyland or to the Monterey Bay Aquarium — with confidence. You don't live in fear." But as President-elect Donald Trump, who vowed an illegal immigration crackdown as a candidate, prepares to take office, the law is coming under renewed scrutiny. Reading this on your iPhone or iPad? Check out our new Apple News app channel here and click the + at the top of the page to save to your Apple News favorites. Many of those who received driver's licenses under the law now fear they'll become deportation targets if federal immigration authorities can access their DMV information, despite assurances from state officials that it won't happen. "We have definitely been hearing about a lot of fear from our community, especially with a new administration coming on board and the anti-immigrant rhetoric that's been out there," said Gutierrez. "Everything is theoretical as we speak, but we are definitely taking precautions." The organization hosts workshops to inform immigrants of their rights and has advised AB 60 recipients to be cautious on the road. The law aimed to ease deportation fears that proved a barrier for undocumented residents to be tested and licensed to drive, a potential safety concern in a state that is home to an estimated 3 million illegal immigrants. Access to a license also makes it easier for those residents to find work and put their kids in public school. Opponents argued the law would weaken immigration enforcement and questioned the public safety benefit, noting it didn't guarantee undocumented immigrants receiving licenses would buy auto insurance. Critics also point to another state "motor-voter" law, AB 1461, that starting in 2017 will automatically register most licensed California drivers to vote, arguing it could lead to election fraud if non-citizens barred from voting in federal elections become registered. State officials said there are safeguards in the system to prevent undocumented licensees from being registered to vote. The DMV said law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, can obtain driver's license information — such as name, gender/description, address, date of birth and driver license number — through certain data-sharing systems. But the information doesn't indicate their immigration status or whether they received licenses under AB60. Reading this on your phone? Stay up to date with our new, free mobile app. Get it from the Apple app store or the Google Play store. "The California Department of Motor Vehicles takes very seriously the protection of personal information for all license holders," the DMV said in a statement Tuesday following concerns about personal information being released to authorities. DMV officials also said "the President cannot unilaterally repeal AB 60 and AB 1461." California lawmakers have vowed to protect the rights of all immigrants, no matter their legal status. "I have spoken to the Governor's Office, the DMV and leaders of both houses, and all are committed to protecting all the information submitted to the DMV by AB60 applicants," said former Assemblyman and Monterey County Supervisor-Elect Luis Alejo, who authored AB 60. "California is ready to fight back against anti-immigrant policies by the Trump administration. We are doing everything possible to ensure that AB60 remains a success story in our state." To qualify for a driver's license under AB 60, applicants must prove their identity and residency in California; pass the written exam and a driving test; submit thumbprints and show proof of insurance, among other requirements. AB 60 licenses are marked with the words, "federal limits apply." They have language on them indicating that the card is for driving purposes only and may not be used for identification. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters Sign Up ## Most Popular Logan Webb snaps 10-year drought for Giants, earns win in impressive MLB debut SF Giants' Mike Yastrzemski making history after close call Rodeo man, woman face multi-state human trafficking charges Hiker Daniel Komins missing in California's Trinity Alps ## More in California News ##### Dog with clip through skin, chained to rubble, rescued outside Salinas August 17, 2019 at 2:30 pm A young dog was found with a carabiner-type clip through its skin, chained to a pile of concrete pieces in unincorporated Monterey County outside Salinas, and the SPCA for Monterey County is offering $1,000 leading to the perpetrator's arrest and conviction. ##### S.F. rally demanding action on gun violence one of dozens nationwide August 17, 2019 at 1:22 pm Hundreds of people rallied outside of San Francisco City Hall on Saturday morning to demand new gun control legislation in response to several mass shootings and an ongoing epidemic of gun violence. ##### Experienced hiker missing in Northern California wilderness August 17, 2019 at 12:35 pm Daniel Komins is an EMT who was reported missing Wednesday from a five-day solo backpacking trip, authorities said. ##### A Vacaville woman went home with a stranger from the bar. Police say she was then trafficked all over the country August 17, 2019 at 12:24 pm A Rodeo man and woman were ordered to stand trial on human trafficking charges in July, court records show. Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
train45072
Driver's licenses for illegal immigrants in the United States
California.
In 2013, California removed the proof of legal presence requirement to obtain a state issued driver licenses. California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 60 (AB 60) into law. Currently still known under its bill number, AB 60 removes the legal proof requirement in California to apply for a state issued driver's licenses. These driver's licenses are not REAL ID Act compliant. This means holders of these driver's licenses could not use this identification to board an airplane, vote, or enter federal facilities. Moreover, all applicants need to have their vehicles insured. However, some California residents who do not support the AB 60 law questions whether these safeties are enough. 
 The AB 60 law did not take effect until the beginning of 2015. In the first twelve months, a little over 600,000 people in California met all the eligibility requirements to obtain a driver's license.