Virginia rejects work permit cards as proof of legal status to get license or ID

[The Hitman]

Source: Washington Post

Virginia said Tuesday that federal work permit cards can no longer be used to prove someone's legal status when obtaining driver's licenses or identification cards in the state after a fatal crash involving a Benedictine nun and a Bolivian man, accused of drunk driving, who immigrated here illegally.

...

The DMV change, which was first urged by Prince William County law enforcement officials after the accident, is Virginia's first attempt to distance itself from federal policies that allow the cards to be issued to illegal immigrants in the midst of deportation proceedings. Immigrant advocacy groups decried the move as a political overreaction.

"From a legal point of view, it's just plain stupid," said Crystal L. Williams, executive director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. "There are so many people who are here legally, and that's the only documentation they are able to produce."

...

The Benedictine Sisters of Virginia and Mothers Against Drunk Driving have resisted efforts to politicize the accident.
"We want to stay with the facts. This was caused by drunk driving," said Sister Andrea Verchuck of the Benedictine Sisters, which are headquartered in Bristow. The two other nuns injured in the accident are hospitalized but are listed in stable condition, Prince William officials said.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/07/AR2010090706807.html

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Now, perfectly legal immigrants will have a tough time getting drivers licences (and of course, insurance) in Virginia unless they have alternative proof of legal status. Apparently, that doesn't matter for Bob McDonnell.

Makes me sick, to see how our "Blue" state keeps making terrible policies again and again following the Teabaggers taking power last year.

[boppers]

1. Democrats hate globalism too.

Check out a globalism thread.

[underpants]

2. Prince William County and The Cuch... great! Va. is officially run by nuts

BTW- the Bolivian was allowed to stay here by...... the Bush administration-all of his offenses were prior to 2009.

[S_B_Jackson]

3. I would think that those "perfectly legal immigrants" would still have their valid passports/visas

and a simple check with the US State Department could determine their legal status vis-a-vis the issuance of a driver's license. Correct?

[txlibdem]

4. And they are legally required to carry that with them at all times

This is a non-issue.

[atreides1]

5. But stop and think

The DMV would have to be the ones to contact the US State Department to confirm the legal status. Once that starts, McDonnell along with the Cuch will come up with some BS legal mumbo jumbo, that will make it almost impossible for any legal immigrant to get a VA DL or ID.