Florida will no longer accept driver’s licenses issued by certain states to immigrants living in the country without documents. This measure is part of a new law aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration in the state, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, which took effect on July 1.
The out-of-state licenses, specifically issued for undocumented immigrants, considered invalid by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, are from Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
The licenses from these five states have printed “Not valid for federal identification” or “For driving privilege only.” Those driving in Florida with such licenses will face fines and other penalties.
The law also prohibits anyone without immigration documentation from obtaining a Florida driver’s license.
“Someone who is in our country illegally and has violated our laws should not possess a government-issued identity that allows access to state-funded services and other privileges granted to legal residents,” DeSantis said in a statement.
DeSantis, who is running in the Republican primaries for the Presidency, has sought to attract conservative voters who favor hardline immigration policies. Former President Donald Trump, DeSantis’s main rival, has been leading in the polls by more than 20 percentage points.