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California to share driver's license data despite fears it could expose unauthorized immigrants
By Khari Johnson, Wendy Fry, Yue Stella Yu | CalMatters at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
· June 30, 2026
· 4 min read
Some advocates say protections in California's data-sharing plan don't go far enough to protect immigrants in the U.S. without authorization.(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)The Department of Motor Vehicles is on track to share driver’s license and identification data with an outside network despi...
Key takeaway The California Legislature authorized that sharing in the state budget it passed on Monday, along with a separate transportation measure that laid out some special oversight procedures to protect the data.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The decision to share driver's license data with a national database has significant implications for Los Angeles , home to a large and diverse immigrant population. With over 1 million immigrants holding driver's licenses in California, the potential for exposure to federal immigration enforcement is a pressing concern for local communities. The use of a placeholder for Social Security numbers may not be sufficient to protect undocumented Californians, and the risk of bulk searches or data misuse remains a worry. As the state moves forward with this plan, local residents will be watching closely to see how the additional oversight measures, including the attorney general's role in monitoring the database, will be implemented to safeguard immigrant rights. The impact of this decision will be felt across the city, from neighborhoods with high concentrations of immigrant families to local businesses that rely on their contributions.
About this story
Original reporting by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 30, 2026 ·
Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Some advocates say protections in California's data-sharing plan don't go far enough to protect immigrants in the U.S. without authorization.(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)The Department of Motor Vehicles is on track to share driver’s license and identification data with an outside network despi...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 30, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Khari Johnson, Wendy Fry, Yue Stella Yu | CalMatters at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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