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Young undocumented immigrants will be able to receive California driver’s licenses under legislation Gov. Jerry Brown signed on Sunday. As many as 350,000 undocumented immigrants in California may be eligible for the Obama administration program, which waives the threat of deportation for two years for those who have no criminal record. According to The Times' Patrick McGreevy: Young people would qualify if they are accepted by a federal program giving work permits to those who came to this country before they were 16 and are now 30 or younger. Brown spokesman Gil Duran said that by issuing the driver’s licenses,...

The governor signed a bill Sunday that will let hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants qualify for California driver’s licenses. Young people would qualify if they are accepted by a federal program giving work permits to those who came to this country before they were 16 and are now 30 or younger. …

Some illegal immigrants could get California drivers licenses under a bill that Gov. Jerry Brown announced he signed into law late Sunday. AB2189 by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, will let the Department of Motor Vehicles issue licenses to illegal immigrants eligible for work permits under a new Obama administration policy. The bill requires the department to accept as proof of legal residence whatever document the federal government provides to participants in its deferred action program. Cedillo said his bill will make roads safer while letting young immigrants drive to school and to work. His reasoning drew support from several...

A veteran California lawmaker said Friday he will, for the tenth time, introduce legislation to allow driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.

After winning passage of a law allowing some undocumented immigrants to apply for college aid, Assemblyman Gil Cedillo's new goal is driver's licenses. The Los Angeles Democrat will carry legislation this year that would allow undocumented immigrants to be licensed, tested and insured. Similar Cedillo measures have passed the Democrat-controlled Legislature in years past but were vetoed by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Cedillo hopes to work with Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown on a bill that can pass muster. The issue has been extremely controversial among lawmakers for much of the past 10 years, with opponents arguing that people who are...

by John HillStand With Arizona It is hard to overstate the stunning embrace of lawlessness represented by three bills signed by California Governor Jerry Brown this past weekend. Brown on Saturday signed three bills that directly champion illegal aliens. Together, they put the state so far on the side of illegals (and against legal taxpayers), that California now has no legitimate rival for the title of "The Sanctuary State", and should consider changing their official motto accordingly. Facing a midnight deadline for sign several controversial bills, Brown avoided a public signing ceremony for these unpopular bills. He waited until the...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed legislation Thursday to allow illegal immigrants to obtain California driver's licenses, marking the eighth consecutive year such proposals have died. Senate Bill 1162 was a far weaker proposal than had been pushed in years past, recognizing the string of defeats and bitter political friction over the issue in an election year. The veto marked one of dozens of actions taken Thursday by Schwarzenegger, who is racing to meet a deadline of midnight Saturday to sign or veto about 500 bills remaining on his desk. Two high-profile bills signed by the Republican governor, Senate Bills 1655 and...

Legislation to allow illegal immigrants in California apply for driver's licenses was resurrected Monday in a weakened version that's contingent on federal funding. Senate Bill 1162 by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, was approved by Democrats in the Assembly on a 42-34 vote, a week after Democrats derailed its precursor, fearing a voter backlash in November. The emotionally charged measure still requires confirmation by the state Senate, which passed an earlier version, SB 1160. It also faces a likely veto by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who vetoed similar legislation last year. Unlike SB 1160, the amended legislation does not require state...

Fearing a voter backlash this fall, Democratic lawmakers Thursday derailed legislation to allow illegal immigrants to obtain California driver's licenses. For the eighth consecutive year, legislation pushed by state Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, that has provoked deep emotions on both sides of the immigration debate has apparently failed. Unlike last year, when the legislation was vetoed by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger -- who had vowed to do so again -- Democrats in the Assembly pre-emptively shelved Senate Bill 1160. This time, the measure died without a vote in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. "My intention and expectations are to move...

SACRAMENTO - Even as the national debate rages over illegal immigration, California legislators are weighing bills that take aim at the issue on fronts ranging from such public benefits as driver's licenses and in-state tuition rates to better investigation of the citizenship status of state prison inmates. Many of the bills are authored by Republican legislators looking to reduce public benefits to undocumented immigrants and investigate what they cost the state in resources and infrastructure. One bill would eliminate in-state discounted tuition rates for undocumented immigrants to attend community colleges and the California State University system. Another would allow the...

Legislation to grant California driver's licenses to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants will be pushed in 2006 for the eighth year in a row - and this time the iron is hot for success, its author contends. "The dynamics have changed dramatically, and in our favor," said Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles. Cedillo said the new bill will be very similar to Senate Bill 60, vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in October. California's political scene has shifted significantly since then, Cedillo said, citing three examples: * All four of Schwarzenegger's government "reform" proposals were defeated in the Nov. 8...

Senate just passed Cedillo's SB 60 - Drivers Licenses for Illegals. Assembly passed it last night. It now goes to the Governor

SACRAMENTO - Legislation that would allow an estimated 2 million illegal immigrants to get California driver's licenses was shelved temporarily Monday by a Senate committee, significantly reducing the amount of time to enact it this year. The measure by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, was placed on the Senate Appropriations Committee's suspense file, a standard procedure for bills projected to cost the state more than $150,000. The committee is tentatively scheduled to vote on suspense file bills Aug. 13, and the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn its 2004 session on Aug. 31. "It certainly shortens the window of opportunity to...