Update: In the driver's seat: Michigan immigrants celebrate new license policy, eye comprehensive reforms

LANSING, MI -- The Michigan Secretary of State's office will begin issuing driver's licenses to immigrants who may have entered the country illegally but are approved to live and work in the United States without fear of deportation.

The new policy, announced today in a memo to branch office staffers, reverses a previous stance by Secretary Ruth Johnson denying driver's licenses to immigrants who qualify for the federal government's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, announced in June by President Barack Obama.

Johnson's original position was based on technical language of Michigan law, which prevents the issuance of driver's licenses to individuals who do not have proof of legal presence. New guidelines released last month by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed that DACA recipients are, in fact, legally present.

"Michigan will only issue driver's licenses to individuals who are here legally," Johnson said in a release confirming the new policy, which takes effect February 19. "The feds now say they consider these young people to be lawfully present while they participate in the DACA program, so we are required to issue driver's licenses and identification cards. I will continue to follow the law."

DACA, considered a temporary measure in the absence of widespread immigration reform, is designed to allow individuals who illegally entered the country at a young age to become productive members of society by living and working without the threat of deportation.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan last month sued Johnson over Michigan's driver's license policy, while immigrants and advocates called the state's position discriminatory and misguided.

Ryan Bates of the Alliance for Immigration Rights and Reform Michigan, who helped organize student protests at the Capitol last year, called today's news a "testament to the growing power of the immigrants rights movement" in Michigan.

"It was an effort by students themselves, leading and taking action along with a broad coalition of labor and civil rights leaders," he said. "They were able to reverse a pretty confrontational policy towards immigrants. This bodes really well for comprehensive immigration reform and shows we have a lot of momentum heading into the big fight."

Staff attorney Miriam Aukerman said in a released statement that the ACLU of Michigan looks forward to dismissing its lawsuit in light of the state's new, more inclusive policy.

"Today's announcement is a tremendous victory for the thousands of young people who may not have been born here, however have only known this country to be home," she said. "They have the same dreams as other young Americans -- contribute to their communities and make a difference in the world."

Michigan was amongst a small handful of states with a clear policy denying licenses to DACA recipients. Iowa last month reversed its policy in wake of the new USCIS guidelines, and Arizona reportedly is reviewing its policy as well.

Update: The Secretary of State says that DACA recipients will receive specially designated and limited-term licenses with an expiration that coincides with the day the license holder's legal presence expires. "This is another tool to help clerks ensure that only qualified residents cast a ballot on Election Day," said Johnson. "This will also help prevent noncitizens from inadvertently registering to vote or from voting, which could result in felony charges."

Update: In the driver's seat: Michigan immigrants celebrate new license policy, eye comprehensive reforms

Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him at joosting@mlive.com or follow at twitter.com/jonathanoosting.