Pink-Striped License For Immigrants Dropped In North Carolina

The pink-striped license that would have been issued to some illegal immigrants, starting next week has been removed according to the state Division of Motor Vehicles on Thursday.

The new design of the identification cards faced weeks of protest from civil rights lawyers, immigrant advocates, Democrats and religious leaders.

Now instead of the proposed pink-striped design, it will include the phrase "LEGAL PRESENCE / NO LAWFUL STATUS" and "LIMITED TERM" in bold red letters on the regular license.

Officials said they have decided to scrap the pink-striped licenses because it would be easier and efficient to produce similar traditional driver's licenses.

"From our perspective, we wanted to make sure this design would allow for ease of implementation," spokesman said Mike Charbonneau at the state Transportation Department. "By state law, any temporary license must bear a distinguishing mark on the face. So we're following the letter of the law in the most efficient way possible."

The new license will be available for teens and young adults on Monday who are participating in the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The American Civil Liberties Union, Hispanic groups, Jewish groups and others criticized the pink-striped licenses as it felt that it was subjecting people to racial profiling and for possible discrimination and humiliation.

"Our efforts do not end when major discrimination turns into minor discrimination; it ends when we are 100 percent positive that discriminatory policies will not go into effect in our state," Rabbi Eric Solomon of Raleigh's Beth Meyer Synagogue told the Associated Press.