A new California law that kicks in on New Year's Day will allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.
Affecting more than a million unauthorized California residents, the Safe and Responsible Driver Act adds the Golden State to a group comprising nine other states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, which all give undocumented immigrants access to licenses.
Immigration advocates remain concerned that undocumented people in the state still won't try to get driver's licenses out of distrust for the new law even though they are protected by law from deportation, NBC News reported.
On the other hand, employees at state Department of Motor Vehicles offices are preparing themselves for a possible influx of applicants once AB 60 goes into effect. California has tapped 900 new hires to ensure that the DMV can handle the new applicants, which are expected to number as high as 1.4 million in the next three years.
"We're really not sure what to expect on day one on Friday," Jessica Gonzalez at DMV headquarters in Sacramento told ABC30 News. "We are expecting a lot of people to come in. Our appointments are pretty full in our field offices."
The new measure is intended to increase safety by making sure that undocumented drivers are insured and aware of traffic laws.
Potential license applicants are shielded by the TRUST Act that became state law on Jan. 1, 2014 to allow undocumented immigrants to work with authorities without the fear of being deported, Seth Ronquillo of Asian Americans Advancing Justice told NBC News.
Those seeking driver's licenses must prove residency, then complete forms and pay a fee before taking the written and driving tests.
States that allow unauthorized residents to obtain driver's licenses include Washington, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Illinois, Vermont, Connecticut and Maryland as well as California, according to the National Immigration Law Center.
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