In California, more than one million undocumented immigrants have received driver’s licenses since 2015, when the state implemented a new law allowing undocumented Californians to apply for the ability to drive legally. The law has had a significant effect on public safety for all, after “a study showed hit-and-run accidents dropped in California after AB 60 went into effect,” and leads to more people being insured. “Overall,” researchers found, “the results suggest that AB60 provides an example of how states can facilitate the integration of immigrants while creating positive externalities for the communities in which they live”:
Assembly Bill 60, authored by then-Assemblyman Luis Alejo in 2013, required California DMV offices to issue driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants as long as they can prove their identity and residence within the state. The law has led to 1,001,000 undocumented immigrants receiving licenses as of March 31 but doesn't give the licensees carte blanche to drive outside of California or fly across state or federal borders.
“Undocumented immigrants were free to receive driver's licenses anywhere in the U.S. until 1993, when California became the first state to restrict access and 45 others followed suit,” reports the Sacramento Bee. That measure was signed by Pete Wilson, the racist former governor infamous among California’s Latino community for ushering in anti-immigrant legislation. Backlash to Wilson—and changing demographics—helped usher in the near-extinction of the California GOP.
Currently, twelve states and Washington, D.C., allow undocumented immigrants to apply for driver's licenses, while Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients can apply under their protections. But with Donald Trump rescinding the program last September and continuing to challenge the portions that the courts have resurrected, states must continue to take their own actions, like California has done and like Rhode Island is doing right now, to protect their immigrant communities.
"Immigrants are getting tested, licensed and insured and this is making our roads safer for everyone," said former Assemblyman Alejo about the legislation, which was the years-long effort of local community groups and immigrant rights leaders. "Today, we see the law working the way it was intended to and has dramatically improved the lives of a million immigrants and their families."