Courtesy D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles.

Undocumented immigrants will soon be able to obtain a driver’s license in D.C., thanks to a Council vote yesterday. But in a blow to some immigrant rights supporters, the licenses will read “not valid for official federal purposes.”

The reversal to a two-tier plan came after Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) met with representatives from the Department of Homeland Security, who explained that they plan to enforce the federal Real ID Act. “I am convinced that Real ID enforcement is coming, and it’s coming soon,” Cheh said, adding that they will make the marking “as benign as possible.”

Councilmembers Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) and David Grosso (I-At Large) voted against the two-tier system.

Graham said that he “sincerely” appreciate the work on the bill, but said he was “disappointed” with the outcome. “I cannot support a license that clearly, clearly indicates that the person holding the license is an undocumented immigrant in the United States,” Graham said. “This is the type of label that is subject to misuse and abuse. It is a type of label that we don’t want for our residents.”

The Councilmember said he feared the license could be used against the people who hold them.

Grosso said the special license would put undocumented immigrants who hold them “at risk of discrimination and persecution in every jurisdiction other than the District of Columbia.”