In a recent update, the Iowa Department of Transportation will not issue
driver’s licenses or nonoperator ID cards to people granted Deferred
Action for Childhood Arrivals status by USCIS. According to the Iowa
DOT, “the exercising of this prosecutorial discretion by the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security does not grant lawful status or a lawful
immigration path to persons granted Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals status.”
According to Iowa regulations, driver’s licenses and nonoperator ID
cards can only be issued to foreign nationals authorized to be present
in the U.S. Because of this regulation, Iowa’s DOT states that it does
not have the legal authority under Iowa law to issue a driver’s license
or nonoperator ID card to a person granted DACA status.
