You’re an undocumented immigrant in California? You may be eligible for a driver’s license

Last night the state of California signed into AB 2189, an act which will make hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants in the state of California eligible for a legal driver’s license.

The California legislation is based on Obama’s recently passed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. An undocumented immigrant seeking a license must meet the same requirements as the Obama legislation requires:

• You came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday
• You have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time
• You were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012
• You entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012
• You are currently in school, have graduated or obtained your certificate of completion from high school, have obtained your general educational development certification, or you are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States
• You have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat
• You were present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS

If you meet these requirements though, the license is definitely worth looking into—and you don’t have to risk being deported by taking a trip to the DMV.

In addition to cutting down on illegal driving and general discrimination, this act hopes to encourage more drivers to invest in insurance. This is something that will not only bring more money to insurance companies but also help keep drivers safe.

Having access to driver’s license is just another great way that state’s legislations and the country as a whole are progressively allowing for undocumented law-abiding individuals who are actively seeking citizenship to take another step toward incorporating themselves into the legal aspects of American society, and toward becoming “documented”.

By Nestor Gilbert

Nestor Gilbert is a senior B2B and SaaS analyst and a core contributor at FinancesOnline for over 5 years. With his experience in software development and extensive knowledge of SaaS management, he writes mostly about emerging B2B technologies and their impact on the current business landscape. However, he also provides in-depth reviews on a wide range of software solutions to help businesses find suitable options for them. Through his work, he aims to help companies develop a more tech-forward approach to their operations and overcome their SaaS-related challenges.