Washington D.C. Mayor to Sign Immigrant Driver’s License Bill

Starting next year, people living in the nation’s capital who don’t have legal permission to reside in the United States will be able to get driver’s licenses.

Democratic Mayor Vincent Gray is set to sign a bill on Monday that would allow the District of Columbia’s Department of Motor Vehicles to issue licenses to people who can’t prove their immigration status. It would take effect May 1 unless Congress intervenes, which isn’t considered likely.

The bill would create a two-tiered system of licenses in order to comply with federal law. The licenses for immigrants who can’t prove their legal status would be marked as invalid for federal purposes.

The district will join 10 states that have granted licenses to people living in the country illegally.