North Carolina GOP Gov. Pat McCrory has approved a plan to issue controversial “pink licenses” to the state’s young illegal immigrants.
The approval comes despite criticism that the brightly colored licenses are the equivalent of a “modern-day scarlet letter,’’
The Charlotte Observer reports.
McCrory called the plan “very sound,’’ adding it was important that driver’s licenses for immigrants clearly distinguish “between legal presence versus legal status.”
The licenses will go to young illegals granted protection from being deported for two years. They will feature a pink stripe and the words “NO LAWFUL STATUS,” written in red capital letters.
McCrory’s sign-off comes after state Transportation Secretary Tony Tata’s announcement that licenses would be issued to thousands in the federal government’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
They include undocumented youths who came to the United States before they turned 16 and are younger than 30, and who have graduated from high school, are in college, or have served in the military.
Those against the measure, including state Republican Rep. Mark Brody and three other legislators, have introduced a bill to bar the Department of Motor Vehicles from issuing licenses for the time being.
Armando Bellmas of the Latin American Coalition in Charlotte told the Observer the license design is “discriminatory” and creates a class of “inferior citizens.”
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