Gov. Dave Heineman said Friday Nebraska will continue to deny driver's licenses to young illegal immigrants who are now eligible for U.S. work permits under a new Obama administration policy.
Heineman said the state will not issue licenses, welfare benefits or other public assistance to the immigrants unless otherwise required by Nebraska law.
The federal policy that went into effect this week allows an estimated 1.2 million illegal immigrants to apply for a work permit and a temporary stay if they were brought to the country as children and have no criminal background.
Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer ordered the state this week not to issue driver's licenses to those who take advantage of the new policy. Others states, such as California, already issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
