More than a million illegal immigrants in California got a driver's license

More than a million illegal immigrants living in California received a driver's license, according to the US Department of Transportation.

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The State Department of Motor Vehicles announced that as of 31 in March, 1 001 000 illegal immigrants were granted rights.

Illegal immigrants are allowed to legally obtain a driver's license on the state since January 1, 2015, after Democratic Governor Jerry Brown signed the draft law on safe and responsible drivers.

The legislation "works as intended and has significantly improved the lives of millions of immigrants and their families," Luis Alejo, the bill's sponsor, said in a statement to the newspaper.

“Immigrants take exams, are licensed and have insurance, and this makes our roads safer for everyone,” Aleho added.

Driver's licenses “have a visible distinctive feature and cannot be used for certain federal purposes,” for example, to gain access to restricted federal territories, and do not give illegal immigrants the right to vote.

California is not the only state that allows illegal immigrants to legally obtain driver's licenses.

Eleven other states—Colorado, Hawaii, Vermont, New Mexico, Maryland, Illinois, Delaware, Washington, Nevada, Connecticut and Washington, D.C.—also allow non-legal U.S. citizens to apply for licenses if they can provide “specific documentation”, a foreign birth certificate, a foreign passport or consular card, as well as a certificate of residence in the state.