Immigrants Now (finally) Required to Prove Legal Status to Get IDs in Texas

As of October 1, all immigrants living in Texas must now prove they are in the United States legally to obtain a drivers license or identification card.

Previously, immigrants seeking these types of legal identification cards merely needed to prove their identity, and not their legal status.

Additionally, the licenses and ID cards that are issued to legal immigrants will be visually different than those issued to US citizens:

After documents are verified, an applicant will be issued a license with the cardholder’s photo positioned vertically instead of horizontally. “Temporary Visitor” will be written on the card, and the date that the holder’s temporary status expires will be printed on its face, according to the department.

This is all well and good — but common sense and logic makes you scratch your head and ask why the hell this hasn’t been a requirement all along?

The answer lies in groups like the ACLU, who of course opposes this new law.

The ACLU’s contention is that it has nothing to do with illegal immigrants getting rights and privileges reserved for US citizens and legal immigrants, but rather that it’s due to nothing more than a fear of all immigrants and an attempt to “intimidate” all immigrants.

Again…this is a good change to our state laws. And it’s about time.

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Cross-posted at RedCounty.