There are thousands of people who are living in Florida without the proper legal documentation. Some people have overstayed a visa or fled to the U.S. to escape dangerous situations without first going through the proper channels to secure permission. There are also many people who were brought here as children who are still without authorization.
In recent years, there have been specific efforts made to help the young people in the last category: children without the proper permissions who are brought here by their parents. For example, in 10 states plus the District of Columbia, undocumented immigrants are able to get a driver’s license.
The option to get a driver’s license without being a lawful resident of the U.S. is a relatively new opportunity for millions of people across the U.S. According to a new report in the Miami Herald, more than four million immigrants who are not lawful residents in this country live in states that allow them to get a license.
Unfortunately, this same opportunity is not afforded to undocumented immigrants living in Florida. It is possible that this may change in the future, but for now, people without a license can find it all but impossible to get around without driving, get a job, go to school and purchase items that require buyers to be a certain age.
This can add another challenge to the daily lives of people who may have been brought to the U.S. as a child and know no other place to be home. Without the appropriate immigration status, these people are at risk of missing out on critical opportunities and could be deported to a country that is completely foreign to them.
Sadly, efforts to make it easier for people in this situation to get a driver’s license have been unsuccessful so far in Florida, though that could change in the future. In the meantime, it can be a good idea for people in Florida to speak with an attorney should they find themselves struggling to deal with the legal complications of their immigration status.
