Reports from Fox News affirm that over one million California-based illegal immigrants are in possession of driver's licenses.

An Overview of Illegal Immigrants' Access to Driver's Licenses

While California has taken a lot of heat for their lax treatment of illegal immigrants, they are not the only state to permit illegal immigrants ownership of drivers licenses. Currently, Nevada, Connecticut, Hawaii, Vermont, Washington D.C., Colorado, New Mexico, Maryland, Illinois, Washington, and Delaware also permit illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. However, they generally have to present some form of official documentation, such as "a foreign birth certificate, a foreign passport, or a consular card and evidence of current residency in the state."

Furthermore, illegal immigrants with access to driver's licenses is not a new phenomenon. In January of 2015, Democrat and Governor Jerry Brown signed 'The Safe and Responsible Drivers Act.' The proclaimed purpose of the foregoing legislation is to assist illegal immigrants in arriving at work, taking their children to school, and running general errands.

However, the aforementioned driver's licenses are different from regular ones. For instance, the driver's licenses of illegal immigrants "have a visible distinguishing feature and cannot be used for certain federal purposes." Moreover, illegal immigrants may not use their driver's licenses to vote or enter areas with federal restrictions.

Illegal Immigrants in America

The aforesaid Fox News report has triggered a variety of responses. Many Americans have expressed discomfort and displeasure with some of the perks and privileges that illegal immigrants are granted, despite entering the United States unlawfully. However, other Americans conversely believe that illegal immigrants are not treated as well as they should be.

Overall, Americans with left-leaning political ideologies tend to favor leniency towards illegal immigrants. The people in this country who hold more conservative viewpoints tend to favor law and order. Right-leaning Americans have noted the pitfalls of illegal immigration such as economic costs on taxpayers and higher crime.

Readers of Fox News furthermore chimed in with their thoughts on illegal immigrants and their access to driver's licenses:

"Well, no wonder Hillary won the popular vote."

"Have we gone insane! What other country in the world would give a license to an illegal alien? Liberalism is truly a mental disorder!"

"This country is going down the tubes. There was a time when most people cared for this country but not anymore. Politicians have corrupted "The American Way" to anything goes."