REPORT: No formal discrimination cases since AB-60 took effect

The California Research Bureau released its report on AB-60 Wednesday and found there have been no formal complaints of discrimination since the law took effect, allowing eligible immigrants to get drivers licenses. The law required immigrant licenses to look slightly different than standard ones and some feared it would lead to discrimination especially from law enforcement.

“The good news was they (researchers) looked at all the records, the press reports, files and they were not able to find any complaints that were filed in the last three years,” said Monterey County supervisor Luis Alejo, who helped craft the law.

Two informal complaints did come up in the report about discrimination at a store and a check cashing business, but overall Alejo says the results are good thanks to the work done with the California Police Chiefs Association and the Department of Homeland Security. And while many immigrants are still facing uncertainty in the current political climate, Alejo is hopeful.

“There is a lot of fears, a lot of concerns but this message is one that we can craft policies and do it in a way that protects immigrants but also it’s good sound policy,” said

One of the big federal immigration concerns has to do with DACA, (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) a huge issue for students, known as Dreamers, once protected from deportation. Alejo says there are at least 20,000 in Monterey County still in limbo until Congress takes action.