[Quadcore]

You cannot even get a driver license unless you are a U.S citizen or permanent resident. International students,visiting scholars or alines working on H1-B visa will not be eligible for a driver license anymore.

This new policy can help Michigan become a state with least number of foreigners probably.

New drivers must prove legal status

Land said applicants must meet four criteria for a license or identification card:
• A valid Social Security number or a letter of ineligibility from the U.S. Social Security Administration.
• Proof of legal and permanent presence in the United States.
• Proof of identity.
• Proof of Michigan residency.

[Rapunzll]

I thought that students and some others might be able to get licenses depending on the situation?

At any rate, I think it's a move in the right direction!

[Aussie_Bob]

Why is this a move in the right direction?

I am looking at moving from Sydney, Aust to MI and we go through probably the same if not better driving tests to get our licenses. Why should we be discrimiated against?

[Quadcore]

Michigan doesn't welcome aliens. Unless you can get green card right after you move to Michigan,you'd better try somewhere else.

Originally Posted by Aussie_Bob

Why is this a move in the right direction?

I am looking at moving from Sydney, Aust to MI and we go through probably the same if not better driving tests to get our licenses. Why should we be discrimiated against?

[Rapunzll]

The idea is to keep illegal aliens from getting licenses. I think there will be exceptions for those here as legal aliens.

Most states also prohibit illegals from getting licenses, I think Michigan was only one of seven or eight states that had no laws to prevent illegals from getting licenses.

[Aussie_Bob]

From what was originally posted, I read that people who are legal aliens (ie those on the H1-B visa, int. students, etc) won't be able to get drivers licences. This doesn't really make sense.

For those who are illegal (ie not meant to be there in the first place), would you bother getting a license in the first place?

[Rapunzll]

They do when they aren't asked for proof of citizenship or that they are in the country legally.

[Rapunzll]

Michigan will no longer grant driver's license to illegal immigrants

[Sparrow_temp]

It's hard to believe that they ever thought it was right to give a legal state id in the form of a driver's license to those that they knew were of an illegal residency status since this would give the bearer legal id nation wide. If I get caught violating motor vehicle laws, I get fined or jailed. If the RIAA targets me for downloading a single CD illegally, it can mean thousands in fines. Violating US immigration laws apparently has no penalty even though it's a homeland security issue.

I'm guessing that as long as they paid a fee allowing the state of MI to collect revenue -- it was ok with them.

[bigjim]

This situation seems to stem from an interpretation of the current law. The did not write a new law to exclude foreigners. I heard on the radio that they are working to fix the law right now to only exclude illegals.

I would expect that any lawful resident should be able to get a DL or state ID pretty soon.