It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about or keeping documents related to immigration status. We found it incredibly hard a year ago," she said. "This is clearly a complete overstep on the part of people who don't understand what the voters, what people in Massachusetts want out of their government," Wendy Wakeman, a Republican strategist who is working with the nascent referendum campaign, told the News Service. A political committee began the process to repeal a new law to allow undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers licenses, just four days after legislators voted to make Massachusetts the 17th state to do that. Massachusetts is on its way to joining 16 other states that grant drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants. House Democrats in Massachusetts have passed a controversial measure that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. The Senate, which passed the final version of the immigrant license bill with a veto-proof 32-8 vote, is expected to override Baker's veto during its formal session House lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill, which passed by a 120-36 vote. Both of those ways of casting ballots proved popular and mostly successful as temporary measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, improving voter access despite threats posed Printed from: https://newbostonpost.com/2021/06/24/proponents-opponents-lay-out-arguments-against-drivers-licenses-for-illegal-immigrants-in-massachusetts/, EightPillars of the Modern Democratic Party. "We believe that could lead to stigma, open up opportunities to discriminate," Crighton said. Driver's Licenses, ID Cards Being Replaced After Printer Mishap, Mass. "And everyone deserves to feel safe and get to work, pick up children and be a part of their communities without fear. The final vote in the Senate was 328 to approve the bill over Baker's objection. House Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, bill sponsors Reps. Christine Barber and Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and Sens. The bill, however, didnt gain Senate Appropriations Committee approval, which was needed because of the BMVs estimated $1.4 million cost to develop the new license. The poll was conducted from April 24 to April 28 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points. The Super Bowl: What Has Happened to America? Migrants have faced a warm welcome but major challenges, like housing and education. Further, newly-licensed drivers are likely to generate an additional $5 million per year in tax revenue once the law is fully rolled out. Thats because the states Republican governor, Charlie Baker, opposes giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. More than 100 lawmakers have signed onto bills that would make Massachusetts the 17th state to give undocumented immigrants the ability to obtain MA Mobile Sports Betting Start Time Set Ahead Of March Madness, Free MA Community College Outlined In Gov's Budget. The vote was 32 to 8, with five Democrats voting with the chambers Republicans against the bill, State House News Service (SHNS) reported. This isnt a slam dunk in the world of law enforcement by any reasonable measure.. Before the bill becomes law, representatives from the House and Senate must reconcile the different language between the two bills, and then it must be signed by Gov. "This bill means trust and dignity for immigrants in our state who lack federal status," Chang-Daz said. APS ASSESSMENT: False. A drivers license allows people to get to work, but also allows people to get to the doctor and make sure their health care needs are being met, Barber said during the hearing Wednesday, June 23. 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An aide to Baker said he supports existing state laws that allow those in the country legally to obtain drivers licenses. Thats bad policy. When Sen. William Brownsberger read out the final result, attendees in the Senate gallery erupted into applause and cheers some shouting "thank you" loud enough to prompt Brownsberger to bang the gavel and ask them to quiet down. Many argue that we should let the federal government do its job when it comes to immigration reform. Charlie Bakers veto. In an event that A drivers license is essential for economic mobility. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures. , Brazilian Worker Center, Rian Immigrant Center (formerly the Irish International Immigrant Center), the Boston Teachers Union, Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, and both illegal immigrants and legal immigrants (who sometimes testified in foreign languages). Zip code: 510375 Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr rose in opposition to the bill, calling it very, very problematic and citing concerns over voter registration. Lawmakers have long considered drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. And I'm disappointed that our governor chose to veto it, and ignore the public safety argument, and get hung up on questions that we think we answered properly to him.". We believe that could lead to stigma, open up opportunities to discriminate, Crighton said. Those people who have elected you to protect them, not just physically protect them in the communities they live in but to protect their jobs, their livelihood, their wages, to give them an opportunity to work hard to provide for their families, to save for a rainy day, opportunities for their children to have summer jobs, opportunities for their 18-year-olds high school graduates to begin careers lifelong careers. Our lives are safer when every single driver has to pass a road test, a vision test, and obtain insurance.. Bill sponsor Sen. Brendan Crighton, a Lynn Democrat, argued against this compromise, according to SHNS, saying it would prevent undocumented immigrants from testing for a license, which would go against the point of the bill. |Contact Us. Analysis: Mass. ", The gubernatorial candidate told business leaders she is among those concerned about the statewide housing shortage and the high costs of living, two days before the man she hopes to succeed in the corner office delivered a similar message dubbing the lack of available and affordable housing an "existential threat.". (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File), The Massachusetts State House in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. WebMIRA is proud to be part of the Driving Families Forward Coalition, which is advocating for the Work and Family Mobility Act). Baker in the past has voiced support for broader voting by mail, and he signed both the temporary law and extensions to it during the public health crisis. A long-debated proposal to expand driver's license access to undocumented immigrants took a major step Thursday toward becoming law, clearing the Massachusetts Senate with a strong enough margin to overcome the prospect of Gov. Im a businessman, so I should like low wages, but first Im an American and I want the citizens on the bottom to enjoy the American Dream first. Tom Homan: Biden is most concerned with optics. |Profile The Senate signed off on the deal and a House vote could come as early as next week. "Certainly, if it's part of our ballot initiative process, that is a concern. The formal legislative session ends July 31. All rights reserved. Immigration activists have long lobbied for the measure, saying it will help improve public safety including for those who already have drivers licenses by requiring that immigrants demonstrate they can properly operate a car and that they have obtained the needed insurance in the event of an accident. However, the opposition felt as though it may benefit big business at the expense of the American worker. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. The calendar could shape the dynamics at play there. Sarah Betancourt is a bilingual reporter for GBH News, and longtime Boston muckraker. A topless marijuana dispensary may be coming to Western Mass. By Jasper Goodman Updated June 23, 2021, 5:25 p.m. Mass. A Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published in the spring showed residents were divided on the issue. The title of both bills . They made their voices heard on Wednesday afternoon. This bill is a free ticket to government benefits, Lynch said. Former acting ICE director Tom Homan explains how President Biden's border strategy is enticing more illegal immigration and voices concerns with ICE's new policy to consider migrants' military service. "If somebody can collect the signatures and put a question before the voters, then obviously the voters get a shot at it," Baker said. Banking as an Undocumented Immigrant. Advocates and lawmakers are holding a ceremonial bill signing to mark the new law on Monday afternoon which will be going into effect without the signature of Gov. RMV To Send More Than 50,000 New Licenses After Printing Error, Even After Investigation, Stoneham Cop Hasn't Paid Dime of Rent to New Landlord, Tracking the Next Hit of Wintry Weather Headed to New England, Due Late Week, Power Lines Crash Onto Cars, Trucks for Blocks in Stoneham; Cause Unknown, Rescuers Capture Bald Eagle Believed to Be Critically Sickened by Rat Poison. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Some who opposed the bill agreed with Gomez on one part of his testimony: that it is a pro-business bill. Minnesota state legislators recently passed the Drivers License for All bill (HF 4), which could pave the way for undocumented immigrants to get valid drivers licenses. Minnesota state legislators recently passed the Drivers License for All bill (HF 4), which could pave the way for undocumented immigrants to get valid drivers licenses. Both of those ways of casting ballots proved popular and mostly successful as temporary measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, improving voter access despite threats posed by the virus. Republican candidate Geoff Diehl said he would support a ballot question to repeal the legislation, according to statement from his campaign. Conservative media is hard to find in Massachusetts. We also worked closely with the district attorneys who have seen these cases and seen people who are only going to court because they cant get a license.. While some in law enforcement have backed the bill, many have declined to take a position, according to Republican state Rep. Timothy Whelan, of Brewster. They'd have until Aug. 24 to submit signatures to local election officials for certification and then Sept. 7 to submit them to Secretary of State William Galvin's office. The House approved its version of the license access bill in February with a 120-36 vote, well above the number of representatives in support that would be needed to override a veto. WebLutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a champion for all uprooted people. "But I think we've got enough interest to do it. 109. While GOP lawmakers are not on board, there's a chance Democrats will need to take fewer steps to finalize the elections reform bill than they did the licensing law. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Allowing undocumented immigrants to get around more easily would allow them to increase their earning potential and employers right now are having trouble recruiting qualified workers amid a time of record low unemployment in the state. Massachusetts to allow illegal immigrants to apply for drivers Sen. Sonia Chang-Daz, a Boston Democrat, added that in many of them, the rate of uninsured drivers and hit-and-run crashes dropped after implementation of the policy. "There were a lot of people who wanted to put a January 1 implementation date on this, and he said 'no, there's no way the state could possibly be ready to do this in January,' and he made it in July," Baker said. Illegal immigrants in Massachusetts will be able to obtain driver's licenses after state lawmakers voted Thursday to override a veto from Republican Gov. Senate Democrats are It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about or keeping documents related to immigration status. Senators voted 32-8 in favor of the controversial The governor said at the time that the legislation would create problems for the Registry of Motor Vehicles, which he said lacks the expertise to verify the types of identification immigrants use from other countries, a requirement of the bill. House Democrats in Massachusetts have passed a controversial measure that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. The new law will allow immigrants without legal status to apply for a standard state drivers license beginning July 1, 2023. About 7% are undecided. Additional drivers licenses equal more revenue through application fees, Gomez said. They made their voices heard on Wednesday afternoon. Baker voiced his concerns about the bill Thursday morning, SHNS reported. And it puts tremendous pressure on cities and towns to do the cleanup on the back end.. Proponents of the Work and Family Mobility Act have long said it will improve road safety and assuage immigrants worries of being revealed as undocumented and face deportation because of a routine traffic stop or accident. Massachusetts Gov. To get a license, immigrants would have to present either a valid unexpired passport or valid unexpired consular identification and an unexpired driver's license from a U.S. state or territory, a birth certificate, a valid unexpired foreign national identification card or driver's license, or a Massachusetts marriage certificate. To apply for a drivers license, immigrants will have to show two documents proving their date of birth and identity, like an unexpired foreign passport, consular identification document or certified copy of a birth certificate. Still, he gave credit to one Democrat: Transportation Committee Co-chair Rep. William Straus, who Baker said ensured the administration would have additional time to prepare for the new normal. Granting immigration status is the job of the federal government. Charlie Baker's opposition. I do not think that we should be rewarding people for being in the country illegally, Maloney said in a phone interview. The Minnesota Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that would allow illegal immigrants the ability to obtain a U.S. driver's license without requiring proof they are in the country lawfully. It will also make it possible for immigrants and refugees to go about their lives with more peace of mind, Sweet said. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. Migrants have faced a warm welcome but major challenges, like housing and education. State Senator Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) said that he sympathizes with those who fear deportation because they frequently drive illegally because their immigration status prevents them from getting a drivers license from the state. WebThe state offers 2 types of licenses, 1 of which complies with the REAL ID law for those who can provide proof of lawful presence. Five Democrats joined the chamber's three Republicans in dissent, but backers still got more than enough favorable votes on record to signal the Senate would clear the two-thirds vote needed to override a potential veto. Are we demanding too much of our Registry of Motor Vehicle clerks? Its treasurer will be Kevin Dube of North Andover, according to the form submitted to OCPF. All rights reserved, 53K Mass. The new rules would apply to those who do not have proof they are in the country legally, including those not eligible for a Social Security number. The 120-36 vote means the bill won the support of more than two-thirds of lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled House enough to override a potential veto by Baker. Charlie Baker and authorizing drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. Some Massachusetts residents want drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. Baker on Monday said his administration would "start the process of implementing it pretty much immediately.". February 16, 2022 20 BOSTON (AP) The Massachusetts House approved a bill Wednesday that would let immigrants in the country illegally obtain state drivers licenses. Charlie Baker's veto of an immigrant driver's license access bill marched around the State House in Boston on Thursday, June 2, 2022. WebLutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a champion for all uprooted people. In Massachusetts, we pride ourselves in being a leader on so many important national issues, but with respect to this policy before you today, we have fallen behind, Crighton said. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Stay up to date with everything Boston. Connecticut looks to join Massachusetts, others states in seeking ways to curb deadly highway wrong-way crashes. The law, signed by Gov. Conservative media is hard to find in Massachusetts. View All Newsletters. "Trying to ensure our driver's licenses have integrity and cannot be misused for various purposes those are important things, and those things don't go away because of the hardships we've heard about," Tarr added. Existing state law prohibits anyone "who does not have lawful presence in the United States" from acquiring either a standard Massachusetts or expanded REAL ID-compliant driver's license. Countries that have consular offices each have their own varied requirements to get an identification card. |Products This bill would enable all qualified state residents to apply for a standard state drivers license, regardless of immigrant status, while keeping our Commonwealth in full compliance with REAL ID requirements. Fattman said local elections officials in his district had contacted him expressing concerns about the topic, and bill backers fired back that the state already has protections in place to prevent ineligible residents from registering to vote. The state Senate joined the House Thursday in overriding a veto by Gov. Sixteen other states already have laws on the books allowing undocumented immigrants to acquire licenses, Crighton told his colleagues. No. A bill to allow undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses in Massachusetts is all but law Thursday, passing the Senate with a large enough margin to overrule a veto from Gov. More than a dozen states allow undocumented immigrants to acquire some type of driver's license, though Baker said Monday he believes in most instances they offer a "driver's privilege card" and not a full license. In your inbox every Thursday morning. In November, voters in Massachusetts will decide on rejecting a state law that allows illegal immigrants to obtain a drivers license. Hongmei Neon Equipment Factory The bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license in Massachusetts will now become law. On Thursday, Crighton said, On the issue of voting, weve debunked it again and again, and again.. Their spending plans for the fiscal year that starts July 1 do not broach the idea of tax relief, though the final fiscal 2023 budget deliberations could revise the state's tax revenue forecast. It is unnecessary because we are just focused on the ability of someone to drive.. Charlie Baker. She said she wants to leave the measure up to the voters, citing the Globe-Suffolk University poll. Senators voted 32-8 in favor of the controversial reform, which has drawn skepticism from Baker and split voters. No. The hearing featured a wide array of supporters of the bills, including various Democrats in the Massachusetts legislature, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Critics contend it could have negative impacts on public safety and could threaten the electoral process. The Democratic-controlled Massachusetts House of Representatives has passed a bill that will allow undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses. She's covered politics, immigration, incarceration, and health for The Guardian, DigBoston, The Boston Globe, and The Associated Press. Support GBH. Market data provided by Factset. To apply for a license, someone without legal presence would need to provide the Registry of Motor Vehicles with a foreign passport or a consular identification document as well as at least one of five other documents: a driver's license from another state, a foreign driver's license, a birth certificate, a foreign national ID card, or a marriage certificate from any U.S. territory. "It basically means, in some respects, the Registry is going to be flying blind with respect to what it issues when it issues these licenses. Oversee budget development for new programs within RIS and update budgets for existing programs. The law passed by Massachusetts state lawmakers this summer prohibits immigrants without legal permission to reside in the U.S. from being automatically registered to vote. Liwan District, Guangzhou,Guangdong (P.R.China) The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. The campaign will have until Aug. 24 to submit signatures to local election officials for certification and until Sept. 7 to submit them to Secretary of State William Galvin's office. Skeptics and opponents of the bill should look to the experience of the 16 states that have already adopted similar measures, said Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, a Springfield Democrat and son of immigrants. Congestion pricing and other traffic mitigation options are back on the table. The measure is about being safe on the road, according to Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles And this time they could actually pass. Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Sixteen other states already allow undocumented immigrants to acquire licenses. Advocates have long said undocumented immigrants would still be tested before driving, and go through qualifications a citizen driver would have to go through something opponents have pointed out as a concern in the past. Allowing parents to drive their kids to school, take them to doctors appointments or be in charge of carpooling to take their kids to soccer, all without the concern they may be separated if they are pulled over, will allow children of undocumented immigrants to breathe and have a sigh of relief, Sen. Adam Gomez, a Springfield Democrat and one of the bills main sponsors, told the news service. We did change some of the bill and made sure that we're really clear on the types of documents people need to provide to get licenses, said Rep. Christine Barber, lead co-sponsor of the House bill. She was a reporter for CommonWealth Magazine, and senior immigration reporter for Law360. Minnesota state legislators recently passed the Drivers License for All bill (HF 4), which could pave the way for undocumented immigrants to get valid drivers "In addition to increasing safety on our roads for all drivers, this legislation recognizes the essential role our immigrant neighbors play in our society and economy by ensuring that everyone has access to a drivers license. A second kind of identification could include an unexpired drivers license from any US state or territory, a birth certificate, a valid unexpired foreign national identification card or foreign drivers license, or a marriage certificate issued in Massachusetts. Lawmakers voted this week to override his veto of a bill that will allow illegal immigrants in the state to apply for a driver's license. Crighton noted in his speech that the law will require the Secretary of State to keep tabs on the voter registration process to be sure nothing goes amiss. Currently, thirteen states and the District of Columbia have made a major investment in highway and public safety by allowing undocumented residents to apply for limited-purpose license and View All Newsletters. Connecticut saw a reduction of hit-and run crashes, and a decline in the number of people found guilty of unlicensed driving, a 2019 investigation by the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting found. Charlie Baker on the legislation. Asked about whether methods used by consular offices to verify documents arent rigorous enough, Maloney said she wasnt sure and would have to look into that further.. Mass illegal immigration is what you wanted Sign up for the newsletter to receive periodic updates on Cato research, events, and publications. Consular identification cards are issued by some countries who have citizens living in other countries, and can be used for voting in that foreign country, or for identification. After implementing a similar law, Connecticut saw a reduction of hit-and run crashes, and a decline in the number of people found guilty of unlicensed driving, an investigation by the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting found. BOSTON People living in the U.S. illegally would The Driving Families Forward coalition, which includes a range of civil rights, immigration reform and organized labor groups, praised the Senate's vote and called for Baker to sign the legislation, arguing it "provides all the safeguards necessary to answer any doubts he may has (sic) raised previously. House Republicans unsuccessfully pushed a similar amendment during their debate on the bill, which Baker described as a "perfectly reasonable way to deal with this. A Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published in the spring showed residents were divided on the issue. 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