Legislation across Republican countries focuses on undocumented immigrants by involving certain types of non -state driving licenses. The pressure is in line with former President Donald Trump’s renewed hard attitude towards illegal immigration and is part of a wider effort to discover the undocumented people from settling or traveling by these states.
In sharp contrast, 19 states and Washington, DC, they continue to issue licenses regardless of legal immigration – provided individuals meet basic requirements such as passing tests and vision tests.
Tennessee’s legislator declares: “Illegal immigrants are not welcome”
In Tennessee, where similar legislation proceeded, the leader of House Majority William Lamberth gave a dull message: “The sign says:” Welcome to Tennessee, illegal immigrants are not welcome, “he said during the floor debate.
The state joins Florida and Wyoming to limit use outside the state licenses issued to individuals without proof of the legal presence of the US.
Florida sets a precedent
Florida became the first state in 2023, which criminalized the use of certain significant licenses issued to undocumented immigrants in other countries. Under the law signed by Governor Ron Desantis, the offense is to manage a license determined “for undocumented immigrants”, which lacks the verification of the legal presence.
According to the State Ministry of Security of Motorway and Motor Vehicles, this ban is currently only falling on specific licenses from Connecticut and Delaware.
Connecticut is trying to protect the driver
Connecticut issued almost 60,700 “only” licenses for undocumented immigrants. In an effort to protect these drivers from legal difficulties across the state, the Governor of Ned Lamont proposed to terminate the special license of such licenses. His law focused on issuing a standard unrealistic license-step ID that would cover the holder’s immigration status. However, the legislation has stopped and has never been voted.
Proposal of Alabama Motorway Warning
In Alabama, the Republican State Senator Chris Elliott presented legislation to invalidate licenses from other states granted to non -documentary immigrants. “They should turn around and go somewhere else,” Elliott said.
Democratic Senator Linda Coleman-Madison, frustrated by the message sent by the bill, offered an amendment that requires that Alabam’s welcome sign of the motorway inform visitors about the law. “Some of our laws are the average pace,” she said. “And sometimes I think we just have to call it as it is.”
The Alabamian bill has undergone the Senate and is waiting to consider the house.
Real ID Law appears on a nationwide level
Despite these state-level laws, the Federal Government is preparing to enforce the Act on the actual Card since 7 May 2025. This Act, which passed in 2005, requires driving licenses to meet strict federal standards-including evidence of legal residence-ABA.
However, states still retain the right to issue unrealistic licenses for residents who do not verify legal status if they meet other requirements.
California and others maintain access
Meanwhile, states as California continue to offer undocumented immigrants access to driving licenses without a label that could identify their immigration status. These policies reflect a dramatically different approach from the hard attitudes that are now spreading most of the south and the Midwest.
(Tagstotranslate) Uninhabited immigrants
