“They’re creating a second class of citizens,” he said.

Gov. Pat McCrory said in an interview with The (Raleigh) News & Observer that the licenses issued to those protected by the policy must differ significantly in appearance from the standard license.

The federal policy grants renewable two-year work permits to immigrants who came to the U.S. before the age of 16, were younger than 31 as of June 15, 2012 and have served in the military, graduated from high school or are currently in school.

An estimated 18,000 state residents are eligible for this program, according to a report by the Immigration Policy Center. North Carolina is among at least 33 states where officials have confirmed that these immigrants are eligible for licenses.

Greg Steele, chairman of the N.C. Federation of College Republicans, said he supports the licenses.

“This policy represents a bipartisan compromise which seeks to uphold federal recommendations to issue licenses to certain illegal immigrants, yet also upholds the law by allowing a method to easily and effectively recognize when the time period for legal presence ends,” he said.

But critics say these distinctively marked licenses could be perceived as modern-day scarlet letters.

The N.C. chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said the licenses could lead to harassment, confusion and racial profiling.

“(These immigrants) are going to work, and they are contributing members of our society,” said Raul Pinto, attorney for the N.C. ACLU.

“There is no reason to, first of all, deny them a license, and now to give them a different license.”

He also said the licenses could pose problems for immigrants completing everyday activities that require an ID, such as boarding a plane.

The N.C. ACLU will partner with other groups to bring attention to the issue, Pinto said.

Contact the desk editor at state@dailytarheel.com.