NJ Delays Driver's Licenses For Immigrants Without Legal Status

NEW JERSEY — The Motor Vehicle Commission, citing a large workload caused by the COVID-19 crisis, says it's delaying implementation of granting licenses to those without legal immigration status.

The new law, which Gov. Phil Murphy signed last year, was supposed to start providing those without legal immigration status the opportunity to obtain a license beginning on Jan. 1.

But on Monday, the Motor Vehicle Commission announced that the implementation of the licensing will be delayed from the original Jan. 1 date. No new date has been announced since the MVC continues to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency on its operations.

The hope is that the licenses will be issued soon now that a vaccine is being distributed and the MVC is working to reduce its workload that's caused long lines at its various sites.

"Status-neutral licensing is important for many New Jerseyans, but the demands on MVC due to COVID-19 have made it impossible for us to complete the training and software changes required to implement it," said Sue Fulton, Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission.

The MVC has implemented many changes in recent months, shifting most transactions online, but demand remains very high at agencies while staffing has been reduced due to COVID-19.

"We cannot conduct the necessary hands-on document training without violating COVID-19 restrictions; in addition, the stand-downs for training would impact our critical operations," said Fulton. "We are hopeful that we will get past the worst of the pandemic in the next few months so we can get this done for those who sorely need it."

New Jersey joined 13 other states, including California, New York, and Utah, and the District of Columbia, in allowing residents to obtain driver's licenses regardless of immigration status.