The undocumented community of California will now be able to havean official identification without having more to worry about.
Undocumented Californians have been able to get driver’s licenses since 2015 under Assembly Bill 60, which former Gov. Jerry Brown signed in 2013. But those who don’t drive did not have access to the ID cards the Department of Motor Vehicles issues to residents who can prove they have federal legal status.
Assembly Bill 1766 is intended to help non-driving undocumented residents who might currently use gym membership cards or college IDs if they must show identification, according to an Assembly floor analysis.
The inability to get state ID cards especially hurts undocumented residents who are older, have mobility or eye issues or live with other disabilities that prevent them from getting driver’s licenses, the analysis said. State ID cards make it easier for residents to open bank accounts and access health care and public benefits.
The DMV will begin issuing California IDs to undocumented residents in 2023. AB 1766 will give an estimated 1.6 million people access to California IDs, the analysis said.
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