Today the District starts issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants who have lived in the city for at least six months, joining only 10 states and Puerto Rico that currently do so.

Until today, undocumented immigrants in D.C. who wanted to drive a car had to do so illegally, since they were not eligible for a driver’s license. But last year the D.C. Council passed and Mayor Vincent Gray signed a bill creating a new license and ID card for residents in the country illegally, following the lead of states like Maryland and California.

The limited-purpose licenses are being made available today, and city officials estimate that between 16,000 and 19,000 residents could get one of the new licenses. According to immigrant advocates, the new credentials will offer numerous benefits to their holder.

FK – One wonders how they ‘document’ they’ve been there for 6 months… They’ll be voting next, by absentee ballot, from Mexico.