Driving laws in New York have just taken an unexpected but very necessary turn in favour of migrants, and it’s that there aren’t many states where undocumented migrants residing in the United States are allowed to obtain a license and legally drive a vehicle. It has been backed by the “sanctuary city” policy and seeks to guarantee opportunities, social integration, and an improvement in road safety.
We tell you below everything that the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has decided regarding this news.
What was happening until now?
Until now, migrant people who are not regularized (that is, migrants not legally documented) did not have the right to obtain a driver’s license, making this a devastating effect in the search for opportunities, but now that’s over. New York has allowed, through the “Sanctuary City” regulation, that these people can obtain a license legally even if their situation in the country is not regularized.
What is a Sanctuary City?
Generally, cities or states where local authorities limit their collaboration with the federal government on immigration matters, especially with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), meaning that in these states they do not collaborate or ask about people’s immigration status, nor do they cooperate in deportations, so they are allowed to access essential services without fear of being deported.
What do you need to obtain a license?
New York’s requirements are basic. You will only need a document that serves to properly identify you. Both the passport from your country of origin, birth certificate, or other official documents that contain your name and date of birth are accepted.
Also, you will need to prove that you reside in New York through utility bills, bank statements, or a rental agreement.
You will not need to have a Social Security Number or any other document, so those who do not have one can access their driver’s license without it affecting their application.
What do they require?
The process includes a written exam and, in some cases, a practical driving test, and the costs for this range between 70 and 100 dollars (the application fee) and the exam depends on the area of the state where you are located.
Other states that also allow driving
New York is not the only one that has adopted this measure, but also California, Illinois, Oregon, Washington, Maryland, New Jersey, Colorado, Connecticut, and Vermont also allow undocumented people to access a driver’s license.
Why is this so important?
Mainly because this ensures that the people who get behind the wheel are trained to drive and registered. It also reduces discrimination and various persecutions by the authorities.
Furthermore, with this measure, the state moves toward complete social integration, facilitating access to jobs, schools, and medical services for those who depend daily on their vehicle.
What’s next?
For many migrant families, this is more than a piece of paper. It is a way to dignify daily life and exercise their basic rights, even more so in such complicated times like now, where racist discourse has hardened, as have measures against migration. One step closer to a fairer and more equal society!