New TN law blocks DACA recipients driver's license renewals – Nashville Banner

New TN law blocks DACA recipients driver’s license renewals  Nashville Banner

A new Tennessee law prevents DACA recipients from renewing driver's licenses, leaving many, including one long-time Tennessean, uncertain of what to do next. “Oh,” said the DMV employee, studying Itzel Zavala’s papers. “It’s one of you.” It was early October, and Zavala* had driven across town to the DMV in Dickson, based on a rumor. The previous Friday, she’d tried to renew her license in Lebanon, closer to her home. She’d gathered her papers, including a recently renewed work permit, and handed them to the lady at the counter. “Hey,” the woman told her. “I can’t renew your license.” Since Oct. 1, she explained, a new law was in effect. The state would no longer grant driver’s licenses to DACA, short for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, recipients like Zavala.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I can’t do anything about it.” Through the immigrant grapevine, Zavala heard that some people had been able to renew at more remote DMVs, where news traveled more slowly. So here she was, an 80-minute drive from home, accompanied by a friend and her daughter. When the employee spoke — it’s one of you — Zavala’s daughter gave her a look. Ignore it, said Zavala’s face. He told her he could not give her a license. Zavala’s friend wanted to know why. She had compiled her