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WEBVTT PARENTS STATUS. AT DOZENS OF OHIO BMV’S, THE MOMENT ANY TEENAGER GETS A DRIVER’S LICENSE IS AN EXCITING, LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE. BUT FOR THOUSANDS OF TEENS LIKE, KARINA CABRERA, WHO WAS BORN IN CINCINNATI, THE OPPORTUNITY IS DENIED, BECAUSE HER MOTHER IS FROM MEXICO AND DOES NOT HAVE LEGAL STATUS. >> FOR A PERIOD OF TIME I WAS REALLY UPSET BUT NOW I’M COMING TO TRANSFORM THAT SADNESS TO HOPE. EMILY: KARINA IS HOPEFUL A NEW LAWSUIT WILL CONVINCE THE OHIO BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO CHANGE ITS POLICY. AS ITS WRITTEN, FOR A MINOR TO GET A DRIVER’S LICENSE, A PARENT OR GUARDIAN MUST COSIG BUT THAT PERSON MUST ALSO PROVE FIVE THINGS, FULL LEGAL NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, LEGAL PRESENCE IN THE US, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND AN OHIO STREET ADDRESS. >> I THINK IT’S REALLY DISHEARTENING AND IT FEELS REALLY DISCRIMINATORY BECAUSE THESE ARE FOLKS THAT SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THEIR DRIVER’S LICENSES OTHERWISE AND ARE DENIED BECAUSE OF A POLICY THAT THE BMV HAS. EMILY: ALLISON REYNOLDS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INTERCOMMUNITY JUSTICE AND PEACE CENTER IN OVER-THE-RHINE. THE NONPROFIT IS NAMED AS A PLAINTIFF IN THE LAWSUIT AND SAYS A DRIVER’S LICENSE SHOU BE ATTAINABLE FOR ALL U.S. CITIZENS LIKE KARINA. >> I’M VERY THANKFUL TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STEPPING UP TO DO THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING A VOICE FOR US THAT WE CAN’T HAVE EMILY: THE LAWSUIT CLAIMS NEARLY THREE THOUSAND CHILDREN IN OHIO LIVE WITH AN UNDOCUMENTE PARENT, BUT ARE U.S. CITIZENS THEMSELVES. WE REACHED OUT TO THE OHIO BMV FOR REACTION BUT IT CANNOT COMMENT ON PENDING LITIGAT

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The Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center claims the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles is denying driver's licenses to teenagers whose parents are not in the country legally.IJPC is a plaintiff in the case represented by Advocates for Basic Equality, Inc. Attorneys for ABLE argue the BMV "has enacted a discriminatory policy that requires a parent or guardian to prove lawful immigration status in order to cosign for the minor child if the parent was born outside the United States."The Ohio BMV told WLWT it does not comment on pending litigation but did refer to its Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws handbook. The policy in question requires proof of five elements, including: full legal name, date of birth, legal presence in the United States, Social Security number and an Ohio street address."I think it's really disheartening and it feels really discriminatory because these are folks that should be able to get their driver's licenses otherwise and are denied because of a policy that the BMV has," IJPC executive director Allison Reynolds-Berry said.The moment any teenager gets a driver's license can be an exciting, life-changing experience. But the lawsuit claims an estimated 3,000 Ohio teens, who were born in the United States, are denied this opportunity because their parents do not have legal status.Karina Cabrera, 16, was born and raised in Cincinnati. She is a sophomore at Roger Bacon High School and wants to play volleyball, but without a driver's license, is unable to make it to practices and games. Cabrera's mother is from Mexico and does not have legal status."For a period of time I was really upset but now I'm coming to transform that sadness to hope," Cabrera said.Cabrera told WLWT she is hopeful this lawsuit will convince the BMV to change its policy and allow her mother to cosign for her to get a driver's license."It's very hard for her because she would hope that I would be able to help her because she can't drive either. For grocery shopping it is very difficult, such as going to church too or her going to some school meetings I might have," Cabrera said."I'm very thankful to the people that are stepping up to do this because I know that there are people that are having a voice for us that we can't have."