Virginia's undocumented residents will now be able to drive legally starting in January

In a virtual ceremony this week, Virginia’s Democratic governor signed into law legislation that will allow undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses come January 2021. Advocates and families who have been fighting for this win applauded the bill receiving Gov. Ralph Northam’s signature. “A historic day in which driver’s licenses are accessible for all immigrants in Virginia,” tweeted advocacy group CASA. “Thank you to immigrant advocates & legislators working to #DriveVAForward for years,” tweeted Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights.

This legislation allowing undocumented residents in Virginia to drive legally benefits everyone on the road, raises funds for the commonwealth, and is just common sense. Not only will roads be safer, policy group Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis estimated that Virginia will see as much as $17 million in revenue within the first two years of the law’s implementation.

“Driving is a necessity for most families, not a choice,” Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis said earlier this year. “Expanding access to licenses would help parents get to parent-teacher conferences, families get to church, and workers get to their jobs. Unauthorized immigrants are already a part of Virginia’s economy and communities, with many living in ‘mixed-status’ families with lawfully present and U.S. citizen relatives.”

Northam said in a statement according to WSET that "[i]n addition to giving members of Virginia's immigrant community the ability to legally drive a vehicle, this driver privilege card legislation will make obtaining valid identification accessible to all Virginia residents, regardless of their immigration status.”

We are excited to see @GovernorVA sign the Driver's Privilege Card LAW to allow immigrant families the ability to drive. Thank you to immigrant advocates & legislators working to #DriveVAForward for years. Virginia is the 17th state to give the right to drive to immigrants � pic.twitter.com/pcb03dt3G0

— VA Coalition for Immigrant Rights (@VA_Immigrants) July 20, 2020

As�­ es como los activistas y la @delegateguzman celebran la firma del @GovernorVA de la legislaci�³n que otorga el privilegio de manejo para conductores indocumentados en Virginia. @UnivisionDC pic.twitter.com/XFf145jnBJ

— Rafael SÃ�¡nchez-Cruz (@rafasanchezcruz) July 20, 2020

@GovernorVA just signed #HB1211 and #SB34 into law. Thank you @KathyKLTran and @ssurovell for helping to create a more welcoming Commonwealth for all! We couldn't have done this without the help from thousands of tireless advocates who never gave up over the years. #S�­sepudo pic.twitter.com/qvC0AXHMmf

— Delegate Elizabeth Guzman (@delegateguzman) July 20, 2020

A historic day in which driver�s licenses are accessible for all immigrants in Virginia! Gratitude to @GovernorVA @delegateguzman @ssurovell @JenniferBoysko @KathyKLTran @RobBloxom, and Richard Holcomb + all the @CASAforall community members + families that advocated for this. pic.twitter.com/opKjLxgP9z

— CASA (@CASAforall) July 20, 2020

Immigrant families have won a number of important gains under Democratic leadership in Virginia. Earlier this year, the commonwealth also expanded in-state tuition to undocumented students at state universities.

“Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-Arlington, said he had to hide his tears when his version of the legislation passed the House 56-44 to a round of applause from advocates,” The Virginia Mercury reported earlier this year. “This was the ninth consecutive year that Lopez introduced the bill and the first year it advanced out of committee onto the House floor.”

“In my neck of the woods, I’ve met students who should be going to MIT and Cal Tech who can’t afford Northern Virginia Community College,” Lopez told The Virginia Mercury. “We invest millions of dollars in these kids and then put up a stop sign saying, ‘No, you can’t go any further.’”

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