Supreme Court ruling moves immigrants 1 step closer to getting driver's licenses in Arizona

PHOENIX – A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court has moved thousands of young immigrants a step closer to obtaining driver's licenses in Arizona.

The high court on Wednesday denied a request by Gov. Jan Brewer to put a previous decision by a lower court on hold.

That ruling struck down her executive order to deny licenses to about 20,000 young immigrants now protected from deportation by an Obama administration policy enacted in 2012.

Five months ago, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the case's judge to issue a ruling barring the state from enforcing Brewer's license policy. The judge has not yet issued the order.

It's not known when such a ruling would be issued or when the immigrants would be able to get licenses.