KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA | Homeland Security deadline allows Washington to give licenses to illegal immigrants
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KENNEWICK, Wash.-- It's something that many of the people we talked with today didn't even know happened. Washington is one of four states, along with Hawaii, New Mexico and Utah that doesn't require proof of legal residence to obtain a driver's license.
And with a Homeland Security extension to the Real ID program, it's going to happen for another year and a half.
Hop on the Washington Department of Licensing web site and you'll find plenty of information on how to get your driver's license. Provide proof you are who you say you are, prove you live in the state; but you don't have to prove you live here legally.
"Washington is one of a few states in our country where the legislature has not passed laws making that a requirement," says Brad Benfield, spokesman for the DOL.
It might have something to do with our state's ago business that does rely on migrant workers.
So people we talked to today said why not give them only temporary licenses?
The DOL says they needed the extension because they just don't have the money to institute the Real ID program just yet; the extension runs until May of 2011.
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