A new ruling by a state appeals court Thursday may cause some Bronx and city immigrants to lose their driving privileges.

The new ruling means New York?s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can require immigrants to prove they are in this country legally before they are allowed to get a driver?s license. This ruling by the appeals court reverses a lower court decision. In that ruling, the state Supreme Court ruled the DMV must stop denying driver?s licenses to immigrants without Social Security numbers.

Immigrant rights advocates are now considering an appeal to this latest ruling. Advocates feel the appellate division decision violates the immigrants? constitutional rights to due process and equal protection.