The New York State Board of Regents voted this week to adopt regulations to allow qualified undocumented immigrant to be licensed to become physicians and teachers, Politico New York reported.
Federal law prohibits states to issue professional licenses to unqualified immigrants, but this does not apply to states if they pass a law authorizing the licensing of undocumented immigrants.
DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program allows undocumented students to apply for work permits and a social security number. DACA recipients would be eligible to become licensed.
The New York Department of Education said in a document detailing the proposed amendment: “The Department recommends that the Board of Regents use its broad authority over the granting of licenses in the Title VIII professions and the certification of teachers to promulgate regulations expressly authorizing otherwise qualified aliens who are not unlawfully present in the U.S. and who meet all other licensure requirements except citizenship to become licensed or certified.”
Title VIII professions include physicians, physicians assistants, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and other professions in the medical field, as well as jobs in engineering, architecture and public accountancy, Politico New York said.
Read “Board of Regents votes to allow qualified undocumented people to become licensed” from Politico New York.
For a full summary of the proposal and the amendment to the regulation, read HERE.
