Do NOT Renew Your Immigrant Driver Privilege Card (Unless You Want To Be Deported)

Attention to all illegal and undocumented immigrants in Salt Lake City and all across Utah: think twice before renewing your driver privilege card, as feds may be using databases of Utah driver privilege cards to deport undocumented immigrants.

When Utah passed the law that introduced Driving Privilege Cards for illegal immigrants in 2011, it was seen as a major victory for undocumented immigrants in Salt Lake City and all across Utah.

But, apparently, things have changed when Donald Trump became President of the United States, and Driver Privilege Card may be used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other law enforcement agencies to identify and deport undocumented immigrants.

It has come to our Salt Lake City family immigration attorney’s attention that there has been a sharp increase in reports that ICE may be accessing Utah Department of Motor Vehicle records to round up undocumented immigrants and deport them.

Originally, lawmakers in Utah insisted that the program, which allows illegal immigrants to legally operate vehicles in the state, would not make it possible for ICE agents to target illegal immigrants unless they have been convicted of felonies or have warrants on their record.

But it looks like ICE may be using the database of illegal immigrants in Utah who have obtained a driving privileged card to deport them even when they have not been convicted of a felony and have no warrants, or when there is at least any sort of criminal or traffic offenses.

With the enhanced enforcement of immigration laws against illegal immigrants under the Trump administration, undocumented immigrants may want to think twice before renewing their driving privilege card, as the consequences for them and their immigrant family members could be disastrous, says our family immigration attorney in Salt Lake City .

Here at the Familia America Immigration law firm, our attorney and her legal team have noticed a sharp increase in complaints from illegal immigrants in Salt Lake City and all across Utah saying that they were targeted by ICE shortly after renewing their driving privilege card.

For example, we recently had a call from an undocumented immigrant “John Doe” who has lived in the United States for over two decades. Over 11 years ago, he had a misdemeanor DUI in Utah, and had no trouble with the law ever since. About a week before his call, he had renewed his driving privileged card as he has done for many years before.

Roughly a week after the renewal, ICE agents came knocking on his door and detained him. And the most bizarre thing is that this is not an isolated incident, and illegal immigrants in Salt Lake City and all across Utah have been detained by ICE agents shortly after renewing their driving privilege cards regardless of the existence of any convictions on their record.

The abrupt increase in such incidents will most likely prompt undocumented immigrants to ditch their driving privilege cards and drive without a license. Our Salt Lake City family immigration attorney advises those who are considering to apply for the card to think twice before doing this, as you might be turning yourself over to ICE voluntarily.

Those who need to renew their driving privilege card should also be very careful when renewing their card, as your application contains everything ICE agents need to detain you, including but not limited to your name, photo, current address, and other info.

In any case, it is highly advised to speak to an experienced immigration attorney in Salt Lake City or elsewhere in Utah to find out more about your particular situation and come up with a viable legal plan. Contact the Familia America Immigration law firm to get a consultation right away.

In Salt Lake City, UT: 801-656-9605

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