Arizona’s Young Immigrants Approved by U.S. Won’t Get Licenses

Young immigrants authorized to work in the U.S. under a new federal program that kicked off today won’t be able to get driver’s licenses in Arizona.

Republican Governor Jan Brewer issued an executive order saying state law bars benefits or state-issued identification for those in the country illegally — including those who qualify for the deferred enforcement program announced by President Barack Obama in June. She ordered agencies to adopt emergency rules to block access for an estimated 80,000 immigrants in Arizona who may qualify for the new federal program.

The order from Brewer came as thousands of young illegal immigrants lined up around the country to apply for work permits under the new rules. {snip}

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Under existing law, immigrants in Arizona are able to get state identification as long as they can show they are lawfully present in the country, according to a statement from the Arizona Department of Transportation.

In her executive order, Brewer said documents issued under the new program don’t prove lawful status and allowing those young people to get state-issued identification or benefits would “have significant and lasting impacts on the Arizona budget.”

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