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Illegal Immigrant Journo's Driver's License Canceled

Effect of Jose Antonio Vargas' revelation

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 22, 2011 10:31 AM CDT

(Newser) – Jose Antonio Vargas, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who "came out" as an illegal immigrant in the New York Times magazine last month, is experiencing some fallout from his confession: Washington state has canceled his driver's license. Vargas initially found a way to procure an Oregon license, but when it was due to expire earlier this year, he obtained one from Washington, which is one of two states that will grant full licenses to illegal immigrants.

Those who have a Social Security number must provide it when applying for a Washington license, while those who don't must sign a declaration stating so and prove their in-state residency. Vargas' Social Security number is valid, which allowed him to get a license with no scrutiny, although the card is doctored to hide the statement, "Valid for work only with INS authorization." Officials opened an investigation after Vargas' article was published, and apparently canceled the license after he failed to prove his residency, the Seattle Times reports.

In this June 28, 2011 file photo, journalist and immigration reform activist Jose Antonio Vargas is shown on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

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Illegal Immigrant Journo's Driver's License Canceled

Effect of Jose Antonio Vargas' revelation

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