Arizona's Dreamer License Ban Affects Citizens

Arizona's Dreamer License Ban Affects Citizens
FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2012 file photo, Joshua Montano, left, and Deborah Robles protest in front of the Capitol the day after Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, in an executive order reaffirming Arizona state law denying young illegal immigrants driver's licenses and other public benefits in Phoenix. Organizations that advocate for immigrant rights on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 filed a lawsuit seeking to reverse an order by Jan Brewer that denies driving licenses to young immigrants who have obtained work permits and avoided deportation thanks to a new policy of President Barack Obama. The lawsuit alleges that Arizona's order actually classifies called "dreamers" as immigrants without permission to reside in the United States. The organizations asked a federal judge to declare unconstitutional the order because federal law takes precedence and because it denies licenses without a valid excuse. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2012 file photo, Joshua Montano, left, and Deborah Robles protest in front of the Capitol the day after Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, in an executive order reaffirming Arizona state law denying young illegal immigrants driver's licenses and other public benefits in Phoenix. Organizations that advocate for immigrant rights on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 filed a lawsuit seeking to reverse an order by Jan Brewer that denies driving licenses to young immigrants who have obtained work permits and avoided deportation thanks to a new policy of President Barack Obama. The lawsuit alleges that Arizona's order actually classifies called "dreamers" as immigrants without permission to reside in the United States. The organizations asked a federal judge to declare unconstitutional the order because federal law takes precedence and because it denies licenses without a valid excuse. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

John Roberts, a retired postal worker from Topeka, tried to use his Kansas driver’s license to apply for an Arizona driver’s license after relocating to Waddell, a community west of Phoenix.

“I was told, ‘We don’t accept driver’s licenses from other states,’ ” Roberts said. “I said, ‘What?’ ”

Roberts is one of thousands of U.S. citizens and legal immigrants who have been affected by the unforeseen consequences of a 2012 executive order by Gov. Jan Brewer aimed at keeping young undocumented immigrants from getting licenses.

Before You Go

The Template: California Proposition 187 (1994)

Harsh Immigration Laws

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