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What immigrants affect the public charge rule? 1:41
(CNN) - The Senate controlled by the Democrats in Virginia passed legislation that would grant temporary driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.
The SB 34 measure, passed on a 22-18 vote, would allow Virginia residents who pay taxes, who can prove their identity and who know how to drive, get one-year driving licenses. It is the last progressive action taken by the Democrats, who took over both houses of the Virginia Legislature last month and have since passed bills that range from weapons restrictions to the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
Current Virginia law requires that those who apply for licenses present proof of “legal presence” to show that they are authorized to be in the country.
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Under the Driver Privilege Cards program, people would have to pass written and road tests and keep insurance. The bill is now addressed to the House of Delegates. If Democratic Governor Ralph Northam approves it, who previously expressed support for such a measure, it would take effect on January 1, 2021.
The bill's sponsor, Democratic state senator Scott Surovell, has worked to approve that measure since 2016. Following the Senate vote on Tuesday, he called the legislation "a public safety and quality of life bill."
“Having an identification also makes it more likely for people to introduce themselves to help law enforcement in investigations. Other states that have taken similar measures have seen a decrease in collisions and cases of shock and flight, ”Surovell said in a statement.
Republicans have opposed the measure. During a House hearing last month on the issue, Republican Deputy Terry Austin argued that allowing undocumented immigrants to carry state IDs opens the door to identity fraud, according to The Washington Post.
"This license can be taken while the person is a citizen of the United States," Austin said. "This could misrepresent the identity of an individual and compromise security in the United States."
However, under the bill, driving privilege cards would not be considered a valid identification for federal, voting or public benefit purposes.
If passed, the legislation would make Virginia the eighteenth state, including DC and Puerto Rico, which would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driving privilege cards, the Surovell office said.
In recent months, New York and New Jersey have passed or instituted similar laws, a push to expand rights to undocumented communities that have been subject to the Trump administration's immigration policies.
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Immigrant advocacy groups in the state applauded the approval of the legislation by the Virginia Senate, including CASA, a national immigrant and Latino rights organization.
"SB34 makes our community a more equitable and welcoming place," Luis Aguilar, director of Virginia CASA for Latino and immigrant communities, said in a press release. Aguilar supported the bill and helped move forward.
An estimated 269,000 undocumented immigrants live in Virginia, according to data from the 2017 Migration Policy Institute.
Driver's licenses Virginia
