Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Las Vegas Sol:

D.C. approves licenses for undocumented immigrants

Mexican Consulate to host meeting on Nevada driver’s authorization cards

Waiting at the DMV

Steve Marcus

People wait to be called to a counter Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010, at the Department of Motor Vehicles office on East Sahara Avenue.

This week Washington, D.C., followed in the path of 11 states, including Nevada, in approving a measure to allow immigrants residing in the country illegally to get a driver's card.

The Washington City Council approved the bill last week and Mayor Vincent Gray signed it on Monday. The program will issue licenses that look the same as the existing driver's licenses but with the phrase "not valid for official federal purposes." Cards will start being issued in May 2014.

In Nevada the DMV has completed its rules for issuing the state's new driver's authorization cards, approved in the 2013 legislative session, and will start issuing them at the beginning of 2014. In October the DMV had a public hearing to discuss the rules regarding the cards. Applicants, it was decided in the end, will have to get documents in a foreign language translated by an approved service. A list of approved translators is available on the DMV website.

The Mexican Consulate in Las Vegas, in conjunction with Nevada DMV, will be hosting an information session on the driver's authorization card from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday. The consulate is at 823 S. Sixth St. in downtown Las Vegas.

In addition to Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Illinois, Maryland, Connecticut and Vermont all offer a driver's license or card to residents regardless of immigration status.

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