State Determinants of Drivers’ Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Keywords
drivers' licenses, undocumented immigrants, immigration policy, indocumentados, public safety
Department
Political Science
Major
Political Science and English
Abstract
In 1993, the state of Washington became the first state to officially allow undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers’ licenses. As of March 2015, there were a total of ten states that passed similar policies. Through a quantitative approach, this study gathers data between 1990 and 2014 across all fifty states in the U.S. to understand which variables (i.e. race, education, economics, etc.) might drive state legislatures to adopt or reject drivers’ licenses laws for undocumented immigrants. Because this study’s quantitative approach is the first of its kind, its analyses and results may provide helpful, substantive information to immigration policy researchers and pro-immigrant rights groups.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Joel Fetzer
Funding Source or Research Program
Political Science Honors Program
Presentation Session
Session A
Location
Plaza Classroom 189
Start Date
3-4-2015 4:45 PM
End Date
3-4-2015 5:00 PM
State Determinants of Drivers’ Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants
Plaza Classroom 189
In 1993, the state of Washington became the first state to officially allow undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers’ licenses. As of March 2015, there were a total of ten states that passed similar policies. Through a quantitative approach, this study gathers data between 1990 and 2014 across all fifty states in the U.S. to understand which variables (i.e. race, education, economics, etc.) might drive state legislatures to adopt or reject drivers’ licenses laws for undocumented immigrants. Because this study’s quantitative approach is the first of its kind, its analyses and results may provide helpful, substantive information to immigration policy researchers and pro-immigrant rights groups.