SABRINA MORENO Richmond Times-Dispatch
RICHMOND â Starting Jan. 2, an estimated 300,000 undocumented immigrants in Virginia will be able to drive legally, thanks to aggressive, yearslong efforts from immigrant rights advocates and a Democratic stronghold in the 2020 General Assembly session.
But while supporters say the measure will boost public safety, power economic growth and allow people without legal status to commute without fear, it is not what advocates wanted.
Along with Gov. Ralph Northam, they championed legislation that would have protected immigrants from discrimination by allowing the cards to look like regular driverâs licenses. But the General Assembly crushed the proposal, leaving the driver privilege cards to state that itâs ânot valid ID for voting or public benefits purposesâ â an identifier immigrants fear could be used to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement and deport them.
Starting Jan. 2, an estimated 300,000 undocumented immigrants in Virginia will be able to drive legally, thanks to aggressive, yearslong efforts from immigrant rights advocates and a Democratic stronghold in