New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation that allows illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.
In a tweet about the bill, Murphy claimed that granting illegal immigrants driver’s licenses would ensure that all drivers are safe and insured.
“To bring your child to school. To get to work. To go grocery shopping. Driving is a basic need – so we must ensure our roads are safe and drivers insured,” he wrote. “That’s why, tomorrow in Elizabeth, I’ll sign a bill to give all New Jerseyans the opportunity to earn a driver’s license.”
To bring your child to school.
To get to work.
To go grocery shopping.Driving is a basic need – so we must ensure our roads are safe and drivers insured.
That’s why, tomorrow in Elizabeth, I’ll sign a bill to give all New Jerseyans the opportunity to earn a driver’s license.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) December 18, 2019
The legislation passed through both chambers of the state legislature on Monday and landed on Murphy’s desk Thursday. Activists celebrated the bill’s passage, chanting in Spanish, “Yes we can.”
BREAKING: The landmark #LetsDriveNJ bill to expand driver’s license access for all has PASSED in BOTH chambers ✅!
Thank you to all who made this victory for equality, privacy, and public safety possible.
The bill now heads to @GovMurphy‘s desk to be SIGNED ? INTO ? LAW ?. pic.twitter.com/p2pJIUNQKX
— ACLU of New Jersey (@ACLUNJ) December 16, 2019
Under this law, New Jersey will offer two options for drivers. One is a standard driver’s license that anyone who can prove they live in the state can obtain if they meet age requirements. The other is a Real ID that complies with federal aviation policies and mandates U.S. citizenship.
The New Jersey bill comes on the heels of a similar law passed in New York by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June. That legislation took effect earlier this week, which led to Department of Motor Vehicles offices flooded with people waiting to get their licenses.
“Let’s be clear. We are hardly being revolutionary here. Rather, today is a simple recognition that our immigrant communities and each of you are a vital part of our state and our economy,” Murphy said while signing the bill.
The new license policy will take effect in January 2021, though some DMVs may offer the licenses before next year. Fourteen other states and Washington, D.C., also offer driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.
