7/29/2019 BMV Press Release 2.8.13

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 8, 2013Contact:

Nick Torres(419) 302-0511

Attorneys, DREAMers, Community Members Sign Petition to Registrar, Attorney GeneralHundreds Urge Transparency, Fairness

COLUMBUS, OH Just days after circulation began, over 200 people have signed anopen letter calling on Registrar Mike Rankin and Attorney General Mike DeWine to putOhios drivers license policy in line with federal USCIS guidelines for Deferred Action forChildhood Arrivals (DACA).

It has come to the attention of the undersigned Ohio attorneys and community membersthat several individuals who have been granted deferred action have recently beenrefused driver's licenses, and in some cases, have had their state and federally-issueddocuments confiscated without explanation by BMV personnel, the letter reads.

In at least one case, an Ohio BMV office seized a young mans Social Security Cardwithout any reason provided. I was scared, said Edilson Ortiz of Cincinnati. It wasntuntil I called the police that the BMV office finally gave it back, he said.

These young people have been granted the possibility of a bright future in this greatcountry, and their ability to attend school, learn English and join the armed forces is

severely restricted by our outdated state policies, said Columbus attorney Joseph L. Mas.

The letter argues that the recipients of DACA meet all the eligibility requirements underOhio Revised Code and Administrative Code. The fact that a DACA grantee is specificallyauthorized by DHS to be in the United States and considered to be lawfully present isplainly a recognizable legal status inasmuch as USCIS has authorized DACA grantees tobe present in the United States for the duration of their deferment, and has provided themwith legal documents that comply with the requirements of O.A.C. 4501:1-1-21, theletter states.

Since President Obama announced the program on June 15, 2011, over 150,000

undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children have benefitted from workpermits and Social Security Numbers. Unofficial estimates from USCIS put the number ofrecipients around 1,500 for Ohio.

The undersigned appreciate the fact that prior to its abrupt and unexplained policychange, Ohio had been issuing licenses to DACA grantees, and simply request that theRegistrar explicitly clarify that DACA grantees are eligible to receive drivers licenses inOhio, the letter concludes.

DREAMActivist Ohio is a multicultural network of groups across Ohio, building a movement to help

pass the DREAM Act and other pro-migrant policies.

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