300 illegal immigrants seek NC driver's licenses

The state Division of Motor Vehicles says it processed 314 applications statewide on Monday to young people who qualified under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The Obama administration initiative extends valid federal work permits to qualified applicants brought to the U.S. as children without authorization.

The state DMV last Friday abandoned plans for a special pink-striped license. The new licenses being issued are for a limited term and state in bold red letters that the holder has a "legal presence" but has "no lawful status" in the country.

Applicants with proper documentation got a temporary certificate valid for 20 days until the licenses are mailed.

The DMV stopped issuing licenses last fall to DACA participants, saying they wanted to make sure they weren't violating state law. The Attorney General's Office issued an opinion in January saying that the agency could provide licenses to people in the federal program.