GOP bill: Ban driver’s licenses for immigrants with deportation deferrals

Immigrants who have received special reprieves from deportation would no longer be eligible for Georgia driver’s licenses under legislation Republican lawmakers filed Friday.

State law now permits driver’s licenses for immigrants who have received two-year deportation deferrals through the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The program applies to immigrants who were illegally brought to the U.S. as children, who attended school here or served in the U.S. military and who have not been convicted of felonies.

Senate Bill 404 would block participants in this program from obtaining state driver's licenses. Republican Sen. Bill Heath of Bremen is the lead sponsor. He is chairman of the Senate Government Oversight Committee. Transportation Committee Chairman Steve Gooch of Dahlonega is cosponsoring the legislation.