Opponents call new driver's license rules for foreign nationals 'institutionalized racism'

01:42 PM CST on Tuesday, December 9, 2008
By EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News
eramshaw@dallasnews.com

AUSTIN – Opponents of strict new driver’s license requirements for foreign nationals are calling on state leaders to rescind the rules, which will make immigrants’ licenses and identification cards look visibly different from those issued to U.S. citizens.

Under the new requirements, which were approved by Texas’ Public Safety Commission and went into effect Oct. 1, foreign nationals are forced to provide documentation of their immigration status before getting a license and each time they renew.

The licenses and identification cards, which are now vertical instead of horizontal for immigrants, are stamped with the words “temporary visitorâ€