September 30th 2023.
Starting this Sunday, all eligible Minnesotans can begin applying for their driver’s licenses without needing to provide proof of legal residency in the U.S. An estimated 81,000 people are newly eligible for licenses, permits and state IDs, thanks to the law passed earlier this year.
This Thursday, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobsen held a news conference to address the rule change. “Too many people have been denied the opportunity to obtain a driver’s license due to documentation restrictions,” he said. “We fully expect this to be an immensely popular program. And it should be — it’s life-changing for very many people.”
The Department of Public Safety has been hard at work in anticipation of the new applicants, offering informational documents, forms and the written driver’s test in various languages.
Several organizations that campaigned for Drivers Licenses for All have also shifted gears to provide resources for prospective drivers. Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina has offered road safety classes and added driver information to their website. They’re also working to offer the written test at their site. The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and Unidos are both offering multilingual resources and information about the process, too.
Jovita Morales, founder of the Minnesota Immigrant Movement, said she’s heard from many people excited about getting their licenses under the new law. Mothers, in particular, are thrilled to be able to legally drive.
Commissioner Jacobsen said those looking to book a driving test should check the DPS website daily for open slots. He acknowledged that it might take a while to get through the process, but reassured that they will be continually looking to improve.
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