July 19, 2013
By Stephanie West
Washington, DC – The D.C. City Council recently passed historic legislation making District residents eligible for a driver’s license or D.C. identification card regardless of citizenship or immigration status. This has resulted in the residents having greater economic opportunity and a safer District.
“District leaders have set a standard for the rest of the nation to follow by allowing tens of thousands of D.C. residents to lead a more productive life,” said Jaime Contreras, a Vice President and Capital Area Director for 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union which represents over 17,000 janitors and security officers in the District, most of whom are immigrants.
“Allowing immigrants to drive legally will also make our streets safer while increasing the willingness of immigrant witnesses and victims to aid in criminal investigations.”
