Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/424535
ByBobChristie Associated Press PHOENIX IfChristianAvila lived a few hundred miles to the west, he would have a driver's license and qualify for in-state college tuition and a host of other oppor- tunities available to young people granted legal status by President Barack Obama two years ago. But Avila lives in Phoe- nix, and the 24-year-old im- migrant who was brought here from Mexico by his parents at age 9 still has to navigate the sprawling city in fear as he drives to school or work. "You get nervous, your legs start to tingle a little bit when there's a cop be- hind you, when you're do- ing nothing wrong by driv- ing to work,' said Avila, a community college student and immigration activist. "You're not breaking any rules, you're following the law. But unfortunately it's where we live." With last week's action by Obama that expanded the deferred action pro- gram and added millions of other immigrants, Avila's plight highlights a harsh reality about the presi- dent's changes. The presi- dent may be allowing them to remain in the U.S., but it doesn't mean their state will let them drive a car, get an education at an afford- able rate or obtain health insurance. A patchwork of rules be- gan to form in states — largely along political lines — after the president al- lowed some young immi- grants to stay in the coun- try. Conservative states like Nebraska and Arizona kept them from getting driver's licenses while liberal loca- tions were much more wel- coming in terms of state services and benefits. Now, states must make new decisions on how to respond to the president's action that allows millions more immigrants to remain in the U.S. In California, Demo- crats, immigration groups and health care advocates are pushing for the immi- grants to receive health care under the state's ver- sion of the Medicaid pro- gram. The California De- partment of Health Care Services is deciding how to proceed. The president's action excludes immigrants who came to the country il- legally from qualifying for federal health benefits. In Nevada, officials are drawing up a bill for the Legislature making clear that unauthorized immi- grants can become teachers in the state. Current rules specify that a prospective teacher must be a U.S. cit- izen or lawful permanent resident before they can re- ceive a teaching license in Nevada. A new gubernatorial ad- ministration in Arizona will have to decide whether to continue a hard-line ap- proach toward state bene- fits that outgoing Gov. Jan Brewer took. After Obama took ac- tion in 2012 granting legal status to 1.8 million young people brought to the U.S. as children, Brewer issued an executive order denying them driver's licenses or other state benefits, includ- ing in-state tuition at the state's public universities. A federal appeals court ruled the license ban was uncon- stitutional, and Brewer is considering an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. "Our position is unilat- eral action by the president does nothing to change the fact that an illegal alien's presence is the United States is not authorized under federal law," Brewer spokesman Andrew Wilder said. Arizona's Republican Governor-elect, Doug Du- cey, has said he intends to continue Brewer's current ban, if it survives court challenges. Maryland's Democratic governor, Martin O'Malley, has taken a decidedly dif- ferent tack. He's a sup- porter of state laws grant- ing in-state tuition to peo- ple without legal status and grants them driver's li- censes. He has even been willing to get into a policy fight with Obama on the stream of unaccompanied immigrant children from Central America over the Mexican border, criticizing the White House proposal earlier this year that could have expedited the deporta- tion of the children. Arizona remains an out- lier in its treatment of im- migrants granted work permits and is among the most harsh when it comes to those who remain in the U.S. without legal authori- zation. States surrounding Ar- izona provide in-state tu- ition to all residents, regard- less of immigration status. And in January, California joins nine other states in allowing immigrants who can't prove they're in the U.S legally to get a driver's license. Utah provides leniency when it comes to driv- ing privileges and educa- tion, despite passing a law in 2011 that mirrored Ari- zona's landmark immigra- tion crackdown, SB1070. The state issues driving- privilege cards that must be renewed annually for those who cannot prove they're in the country legally. Nearly 36,300 were is- sued last year, said Nan- nette Rolfe, the director of Utah's Driver License Di- vision. Utah also offers in- state tuition at public uni- versities and colleges to res- idents not in the U.S. legally. To be eligible, students must have attended a Utah high school for at least three years and earned a di- ploma or GED. They can't hold a non-immigrant visa and must file an applica- tion to legalize their immi- gration status when eligible to do so. In the 2012-2013 academic students, 929 stu- dents took advantage of the program. Despite the fact that life would be easier if he left the state, Avila said he's staying put. "This is where we got dirty as kids, this is where we learn how to speak Eng- lish, this is where we learn how to do a lot of stuff," he said. "Here in Arizona is where my friends, my fam- ily, live and I don't see it as an option to run away, but rather stand up and change the conditions that we live under." LUCK OF THE DRAW Immigrants' chances are tied to their state's policies DAMIANDOVARGANES—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE Community organizers Lucia Lin, le , and Carlos Amador join about 100people during a California Department of Motor Vehicles hearing in downtown Los Angeles held to take public comments on proposed rules by which immigrants in the country illegally may obtain driver's licenses. SHOP LOCAL. SHOP SMALL. SmallbusinessoperatorssponsorLittleLeagueTeams.Theycollectfoodfor those less fortunate. They support local service clubs. They give directions to folks from out of town. They employ your friends and neighbors. They serve on community committees. They sponsor local events, parades and festivals. Sales taxes from their businesses support City and County public services including law enforcement and firefighters. HERE'S A CHANCE TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION. 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