The following states currently allow an undocumented immigrant driver's license to be issued: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington. The state of New York has also joined the list, after passing the Green Light Bill in June 2019, which allows licenses to now be obtained. In addition, undocumented immigrants can also obtain a driver's license in Washington DC, the capital of the US, and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

So, while it is true that a driver's license can be obtained in some states without having legal immigration status, states like Texas make this impossible. Texas is home to the highest immigrant population in the US, but it does not allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver's license. This is making the state one of the most dangerous for drivers, as not allowing undocumented immigrant to obtain a license means there is no control over who is driving on the roads, with unlicensed drivers not passing the traffic regulations knowledge test and the driving test, which ensure that drivers are able to drive a car safely.

It is important to know the minimum requirements for a driver’s license in each state, since, as there are differences. It is also important to understand why it cannot be used for identification purposes or for federal use. It is also useful to know how a license is used with or for other forms of identification, such as consular registration and an ID that is issued by some cities.

The ability to receive a driver's license without having to prove legal status in the US was granted to paperless immigrants for the first time in 1993. Washington was the first state to do so, in 1993, followed by: New Mexico and Utah, in 2003 and 2005, respectively; Illinois in 2013. Colorado, Maryland, Nevada, Vermont and the District of Columbia approved similar initiatives in 2014, and they were followed by California, Connecticut, Delaware and Hawaii in the past four years.

Studies show that by passing legislation in favor of issuing a license to undocumented immigrants, these states have improved road safety and boosted that state's economy.