Court Orders NY DMV to Renew Driver's Licenses for Immigrants - Now How Do You Say "Danger No Passing" in Spanish or Japanese, or Chinese or French or

PRESS CONFERENCE Friday, February 18, 2005

New York State Supreme Court Justice Karen E. Smith late yesterday ordered Governor Pataki and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles to renew driver's licenses for immigrant residents of the State. DMV was also directed to give plaintiffs 48 hours' notice before starting its effort to suspend the licenses of residents who lack a Social Security Number so as to allow plaintiffs to seek further court orders to challenge similar illegalities. Further, the Judge told DMV it is not to impose its own immigration policies.

Immigrants, represented by the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, with Patterson Belknap, Ward and Tyler serving as counsel, brought this action, which asserts DMV's actions are not authorized by State law or regulation and violate the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of both the United States and State Constitutions.

It is estimated that as many as 300,000 immigrants in New York State could lose driving privileges were the DMV to move ahead with its actions.

  What:     Press Conference on yesterday's ruling

  Who:      Representatives from PRLDEF and others associated with the case

  When:     Friday, February 18, 2005 1:00 p.m. EST

  Where:    PRLDEF, 99 Hudson Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY

  CONTACT:  Foster Maer of PRLDEF, +1-212-739-7507.

PRNewswire -- Feb. 18