CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) –
The North Carolina Attorney General issued a letter to the Department of Motor Vehicles Thursday about their ruling in whether or not illegal immigrants can get temporary driver`s licenses in North Carolina.
In the statement, the NCDOJ says young illegal immigrants, under deferred action, can get temporary driver`s licenses in the state.
“It is therefore our opinion that individuals who have been granted deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy directive are lawfully present in the United States during the period of deferment.” the release states, ” As such, N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-7(s), which states that DMV shall issue a drivers license of limited duration to person who present valid documentation demonstrating deferment and meet all other statutory requirements, requires that such licenses be issued.”
North Carolina had previously said it would not issue licenses for young people in the country illegally until the Attorney General ruled on the issue.
Under President Obama`s new deferred action program, illegal immigrants under age 31 who were brought to the U.S. as children could qualify for a 2-year work permit.
But whether or not they qualify for a driver`s license is up to each state.
To read the entire letter from the Attorney General, click here.
WBTV has reached out to the DMV, but has not received a response on the issue.
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