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DACA Driver's License Ban Challenged In Court Again

Federal Courthouse
Jimmy Jenkins/KJZZ
/
file | staff
The Federal Courthouse in Phoenix.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program known as DACA allows recipients to work, but in Arizona they can’t drive.

Former Gov. Jan Brewer issued an executive order blocking DACA recipients from applying for a driver’s license. The state contends it has the right to issue a license to whoever it wants, but rights groups say it’s a discriminatory practice and are seeking an injunction.

Victor Viramontes is national senior counsel at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. He said, based on previous rulings, he thinks the Federal Court will grant their request.

“So this judge has told them it’s illegal. The 9th Circuit has told them it’s illegal. And here we are in Federal Court again in front of the same judge. It’s like deja vu because Arizona just doesn’t get it,” Viramontes said.

The judge will also hear a motion from the state to throw the case out.

Jimmy Jenkins was a producer and senior field correspondent at KJZZ from 2014 to 2021.