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Immigrant rights groups get language of driver's license bill changed

Logan Campbell
/
https://flic.kr/p/9TJPp3

Immigrant rights groups say they are no longer concerned about a bill in the state house that would have required drivers licenses indicate when a noncitizen was no longer a legal resident.

The bill’s language required that drivers licenses have an expiration date matching the last day of the driver’s legal residence in the US - and an indication that the expiration date meant they were no longer legal.

The second part is what immigrants rights groups protested, saying for any noncitizen who extended their stay it could unintentionally identify them as illegal and lead to confusion or harassment.

Susan Reid is an Attorney at the Michigan Immigrants Rights Center. She said anytime a noncitizen renewed their status the notice on the driver's license would be out of date- and could lead to confusion.

“It also gives bad information to law enforcement right? It really has the potential to lead to discrimination, racial profiling, or just confusion.”

Reid said bill sponsors worked with her group to remove the language.

“The legislative process really worked. The secretary of state and the bill sponsors worked with us after we opposed the bill initially worked with us on better language and we’re comfortable with what passed out of committee today we were neutral on it.”

The bill still requires that drivers licenses not be issued past the initial date of legal residence in the US. That move puts the state ID requirements in line with federal mandate.