Nebraska Allows State Licenses for Thousands of Immigrants

Helen Estanislao and Antonio Perez celebrate outside the Legislative Chamber at the State Capitol in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, April 20, 2016, after Nebraska lawmakers overrode Gov. Pete Ricketts veto of a bill that would allow certain immigrants to get professional licenses. The bill would apply to young immigrants who entered the country illegally but received temporary legal status under a 2012 Obama administration policy. AP Photo/Nati Harnik

LINCOLN, Neb.—Nebraska will allow thousands of immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children to work in at least 170 professions that require state licenses including health care and education after lawmakers overrode conservative Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts’ veto of the measure on Wednesday.

Senators took the vote on the last day of their legislative session, five days after Ricketts called it unfair to immigrants who followed the legal pathway to citizenship. Young immigrants and other supporters erupted in applause from the gallery of the chamber following the 31-13 vote.

Nebraska state Senators, including Sara Howard of Omaha, right, and Ken Harr of Malcolm, second right, applaud spectators in the visitors balcony in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, April 20, 2016, who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. AP Photo/Nati Harnik