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Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –
Tennessee immigration advocacy organizations say that recent changes to the state’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security rules regarding proof of immigration status for license eligibility has caused hundreds of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients to be turned away from renewing their drivers’ licenses, potentially putting them at risk of losing work eligibility or their protected status.
DACA, enacted through executive action by President Obama in 2012, grants protection from deportation for children of illegal aliens who were brought to the country prior to 2007, called “Dreamers”. The program grants a temporary two-year, renewable legal status which allows DACA recipients to obtain drivers licenses and pursue education and careers.
Over the past 10 years, DACA has provided immunity for over 800,000 children of illegal aliens, though legal challenges and policy changes have somewhat complicated the system.
Missed or delayed renewals can lead to loss of work authorization or the possibility of deportation. DACA recipients have also complained over about backlogs, the $555-$605 cost of renewal applications, difficulties making payments in the portal, and longer processing times for renewals.
“We’re constantly having to show proof that we are good citizens and residents of the country and be able to pay this fee every two years,” one recipient lamented earlier this year.
Legal director at Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors (TNJFON) added, “For DACA holders, their driver’s license is tied to their work permit, so their driver’s license of their Tennessee ID has also expired at the same time the work permits expired. Then they might be facing a lapse in their ability to have a valid driver’s license, which in the current [political] climate is even more problematic because driving without a license is a misdemeanor.”
This directly impacts illegals and possibly some DACA recipients as driving without a license is now a misdemeanor in Tennessee and evidenced in some counties outside of Nashville where individuals charged with driving without a license have later had ICE detainers lodged against them and been turned over to federal custody.
And the U.S. Justice Department made it easier to deport DACA recipients this year when the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) issued a decision stating DACA coverage alone is not enough reason to provide relief from deportation. U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials under the Trump administration have also urged DACA recipients to self-deport, concurring the program itself does not automatically equate to legal status.
According to ICE, between January 1, 2025, and November 19, 2025, 261 DACA recipients were arrested, with 241 of those having criminal histories, and 86 were deported.
Now, as Tennessee begins to implement new laws and policies regarding illegal immigration passed through the General Assembly earlier this year, the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition posted to Facebook they’d become aware of the recent changes to Tennessee’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s rules that could make it more challenging for DACA recipients to renew their drivers’ licenses, which could ultimately affect their work eligibility.
In a statement about the new changes, the department cites TCA § 55-50-331(g) which “requires applicants for a temporary driver license to provide proof of a specified period of authorized stay in the United States. DACA is a form of deferred action and does not itself confer lawful immigration status according to the Federal Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration Division. An employment authorization card, by itself, does not establish the status required to prove a specified period of authorized stay within the United States. As a result, some individuals who previously held a license could be affected at renewal if the federal documentation they present no longer establishes eligibility under State and Federal law.”
Practically, this means that DACA recipients who previously used an Employment Authorization Document (EAD/work permit) or related documents now face denials.
“It appears that Tennessee has really changed the rules overnight and has taken away the freedom to have a driver’s license from individuals in our community who really keep this city and state running,” said TIRRC advocacy manager Cali VanCleve.
TIRRC is asking the department for further transparency about the new rules and held a “community call about the changes” on Oct. 8. The organization is also urging DACA recipients unable to renew their licenses to report their experiences to the nonprofit’s resource line.
Sources:
NPR.
NPR.
WKRN.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Their parents are/were illegals, they should’ve never been here.