Even without a clear resolution to federal immigration reform issues, many states are offering undocumented immigrants more rights and more paperwork.<\/p>\n
For illegal immigrants, driver’s licenses matter more than most paperwork for everyday living. More and more immigrants are receiving licenses even though federal reform struggles to move forward. Colorado recently became the tenth state to allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver\u2019s licenses. The state’s rationale is simple \u2013 it enhances road safety.<\/p>\n
Not long ago, only three U.S. states offered undocumented immigrants licenses. Slowly, states are extending measures of fairness and equality to those who have arrived in the country without government permission.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The move to recognize illegal immigrants started in 1993 with Washington State. In early 2015, California, Colorado, Connecticut (effective January 1, 2015), the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Vermont, and Washington offer licenses to qualified drivers regardless of citizenship. <\/p>\n