To the surprise of probably only legislators who supported such initiatives, California is finding it really difficult convince people who aren't living in the U.S. legally to get driver's licenses. Because, you know, then the government would have their information.
The New York Times reported California's Department of Motor Vehicles is hiring 1,000 new employees to handle the 1.4 million people expected to sign up for licenses beginning next year. But there's a high level of distrust, according to the DMV, because people think they're just going to use the information to deport people.
Those people included a 30-year-old woman who drives every day, even though she's unlicensed, uninsured and undocumented:
Every time I buckle my seatbelt, I am afraid...
If they write something on the back of the license that says it can't be used to deport me, then maybe I'll get one.
Allowing unauthorized residents driver's licenses in the state has been a contentious process that finally ended after 20 years of arguing when Gov. Jerry Brown last fall signed a bill into law that would allow them to apply.
The Times reported that Nevada's Driver Authorization Cards, which began being issued this year in a similar attempt to license some immigrants, has registered 16,000 people out of roughly 250,000 illegal immigrants in that state.
Even if there isn't a rush of people applying for licenses next year, the idea to hire more DMV workers is a most-appreciated move.
Photo: AP
Illegal Immigrants Actually Don't Want California Driver's Licenses