State Agency Will Issue Licenses to Immigrants
by Associated Press
January 23, 2013 4:35 PM
The Iowa Department of Transportation says it will issue driver licenses to young illegal immigrants allowed to remain in the county by a presidential order.
The decision announced Wednesday reverses a policy made in December, when state officials argued the federal rules didn't give them legal authority to issue licenses to the immigrants.
The Obama administration clarified its policy last week, saying young people allowed to remain in the country under the "Dream Act" policy are considered to be authorized residents.
The Transportation Department says that because of that clarification, it can issue driver licenses and nonoperator identification cards.
Under the federal program, illegal immigrants can receive renewable, two-year deportation reprieves if they were brought into the U.S. as children. They also must meet specific age, residency and education requirements.
