Court Halts Denial of Licenses for Immigrants

PHOENIX (AP) — An appeals court blocked Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's policy of denying driver's licenses to young immigrants who have gotten work permits and avoided deportation under an Obama administration policy.

The ruling Monday by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco marks a victory for immigrant rights advocates who argued the young immigrants were harmed by unequal treatment by the state.

The appeals court agreed on that issue and said the advocates also showed a likelihood that the immigrants would be harmed by the state's denial.

The Obama administration took steps in June 2012 to shield thousands of young immigrants from deportation.

The state revised its driver's license policy by halting licenses to all people who receive deportation deferrals from the federal government, not just young immigrants given protection under Obama's policy.