DEARBORN — The Office of the Michigan Secretary of State announced Wednesday that it would begin accepting driver’s license applications from legal immigrants here on temporary visas.

In late January, a policy implemented by Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, based on her interpretation of an opinion from Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, denied the right to licenses for international students and temporary workers.

Under the policy, only permanent legal residents were entitled to state driver’s licenses.

More than 400,000 university students and foreign workers — including large chunks of the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers sports teams, which recruit players from Europe, Canada and Latin America—were estimated have been affected by the policy.

But on February 15 Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a new law intended to solve the problem.

The state legislature worked fast to prepare the bill after facing pressure from international trading partners, universities and embassies.

The American Civil Liberties Union had filed a lawsuit against the state on behalf of six foreign workers who were ineligible to drive legally under the policy.

ACLU officials have said they expect to drop the suit after confirming that all their clients are included under the new legislation.

The new law permits the issuance of a driver’s license to foreign nationals who are in the state legally, but prohibit that for illegal immigrants.

Licenses can now be issued to non-permanent residents covering the period of time they are under visas or work permits, and can be extended when visas are extended.

Applicants seeking their first driver’s license are required to provide the Secretary of State with the following: a social security number; a birth certificate, valid visa or proof of legal presence; identity documents, including a passport; and two documents showing proof of residency, including paychecks, bank statements, mortgage or rental payments.