A federal court ruled Monday that Arizona authorities may not deny driver's licenses to immigrants who received work permits under the Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
The court decision stipulates that Arizona must begin issuing licenses to DACA recipients, although state authorities have already expressed their intention to appeal the ruling.
DACA, which went into effect in August 2012, allows certain individuals to live and work legally in the country. In addition, DACA recipients can obtain driver's licenses if they meet the appropriate requirements.
Arizona's Republican governor, Jan Brewer, opposed and signed an executive order prohibiting her state's officials from granting licenses and other public benefits to DACA recipients.
In a unanimous ruling, a three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Arizona's attempt to block the issuance of driver's licenses to young DACA recipients is unconstitutional.
According to the court, prohibiting the issuance of the licenses violated the equal protection statute of the U.S. Constitution and that because of this, DACA recipients could suffer irreparable harm from the State's policy.
In view of the court ruling, Governor Brewer assured that they will continue the legal fight to prevent the issuance of licenses to these young people.