Which States Make Life Easier or Harder for Illegal Immigrants

Ten states and the District of Columbia allow unauthorized immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses using a foreign passport or birth certificate or evidence of current residency in the state. But most states require a Social Security number for a driver’s license, which unauthorized immigrants do not have.

Twenty states allow unauthorized immigrants to attend a public college at the same in-state tuition rate that legal residents and American citizens pay. A few, like California, allow those immigrants to apply for financial aid.

Arizona passed a law in 2010 requiring the police to question anyone they arrest about immigration status if they suspect the person is in the country illegally. Five other states enacted measures patterned after the Arizona law.

Twenty-six states have filed a lawsuit challenging President Obama’s executive actions, which would give work permits and protection from deportation to about four million unauthorized immigrants. Some of these states, like Texas, Florida and Georgia, are among those with the largest populations of unauthorized immigrants. Another 14 states and the District of Columbia have asked a federal appeals court to allow Mr. Obama’s programs to begin.