The bill could also act as a lure to those in the country illegally knowing they could get a drivers license in Massachusetts, said Republican Rep. Paul Frost, of Auburn. Nobody has filed paperwork for a referendum yet, according to Secretary of State Bill Galvins office, but the group is expected to soon. By making all immigrants eligible for a driver's license, we make it possible for all drivers to drive in a safe, secure manner, she said. Are we asking them to become experts in foreign documentation and forgery detection? Whelan said. |Contact Us. Mass illegal immigration is what you wanted Sign up for the newsletter to receive periodic updates on Cato research, events, and publications. , 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). Photo: Steph Solis/Axios Massachusetts is on track to become the 17th state to allow immigrants without legal status to obtain state-issued driver's licenses nearly two decades after the proposal first emerged. Senators voted 32-8 in favor of the controversial reform, which has drawn skepticism from Baker and split voters. The votes were there to pass the bill and Democrats in both branches flexed their political muscles in a 24-hour span to cement the licensing bill as law by clearing the two thirds hurdle needed for a veto override. The House voted 11936 on Wednesday to override the veto. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. How legitimate are those concerns? The state House passed a similar bill by a veto-proof 120-36 margin in February. Charlie Baker's formal opposition. A Suffolk University-Boston Globe poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published Monday found 46.6% oppose the proposal, 46.1% support it and nearly 7% are undecided. The Massachusetts State House in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. "That's democracy.". 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. The state Senate voted 32-8 despite Baker's objection and a day after the House voted 119-36 on the same measure, dubbed the Work and Family Mobility Act. "Allowing parents to drive their kids to school, take them to doctor's 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 breath and have a sigh of relief," said Sen. Adam Gomez, a Springfield Democrat and one of the bill's main sponsors. During the debate over the bill Thursday, SHNS reported, the five Democrats and three Republicans argued for having drivers licenses issued to undocumented immigrants reflect their undocumented status in some form. Now dip your toe in the water for two bucks $2 for two months. The vote was 32 to 8, with five Democrats voting with the chambers Republicans against the bill, State House News Service (SHNS) reported. It would most likely require a two-thirds majority in each chamber of the Massachusetts Legislature for this bill to pass. or redistributed. McCraw said that Asian Americans were targeted in hopes of finding "look-a-likes" for undocumented immigrants of Asian descent. We sat down with the chiefs and asked what their concerns were and worked with them. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. This article was updated to include additional comments. Charlie Baker delivers his state of the state address Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, in the House Chamber at the Statehouse, in Boston. All rights reserved, 53K Mass. Senate overrides Baker veto: Undocumented immigrants will be able to get driver's licenses, With override, House moves Massachusetts closer to drivers licenses for unauthorized immigrants, Baker vetoes immigrant license access bill. Road safety and immigration reform advocates spent years unsuccessfully pressing lawmakers to act, arguing that expanding license access would ensure undocumented immigrants who already live in Massachusetts are properly tested before getting on the road and rein in their fears of law enforcement entanglement. The law, signed by Gov. 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. "The legislature has now resoundingly supported the Work and Family Mobility Act, moving all state residents toward greater road safety, improved security, better public health and a more vibrant economy, and promising a profound transformation in the lives of undocumented immigrants across the Commonwealth.". An aide to Baker said he supports existing state laws that allow those in the country legally to obtain drivers licenses. The calendar could shape the dynamics at play there. The deadline to file would be July 9, or within 30 days of the Senate overriding Gov. Charlie Baker's veto of an immigrant driver's license access bill marched around the State House in Boston on Thursday, June 2, 2022. 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. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Undocumented immigrants will still need to prove their identity, date of birth and residency in Massachusetts using a range of documents including either a valid, unexpired foreign passport or a valid, unexpired consular identification document. And it puts tremendous pressure on cities and towns to do the cleanup on the back end.. We have far more important problems to fix, Kropper said. Oversee budget development for new programs within RIS and update budgets for existing programs. The formal legislative session ends July 31. Support GBH. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. 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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. 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. She's covered politics, immigration, incarceration, and health for The Guardian, DigBoston, The Boston Globe, and The Associated Press. 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. Sarah Betancourt is a bilingual reporter for GBH News, and longtime Boston muckraker. She said she wants to leave the measure up to the voters, citing the Globe-Suffolk University poll. WebMIRA is proud to be part of the Driving Families Forward Coalition, which is advocating for the Work and Family Mobility Act). Market data provided by Factset. While the legislation has now cleared both chambers with more than three-quarters of elected lawmakers in support, Bay Staters in general are nearly evenly split on the idea of allowing people without legal immigration status to acquire Massachusetts licenses, according to a new poll. Supporters of the bill said it would allow thousands of unlicensed drivers to travel to work and school without fear and would enhance safety on the road. The conference committee that took months to produce an accord agreed to give prospective voters 10 more days before an election to register, but they opted against a Senate-approved policy allowing new voters to register and cast a ballot in one trip to the polls. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. ", Chris Doughty, who is also running for governor as a Republican, circulated a petition on his campaign website in the wake of the override slamming the move and calling for voters to "tell the Legislature right now that you are AGAINST this decision.". This is a concrete step the Commonwealth could take to improve the daily lives of immigrants.. Those who testified largely stuck to the same talking points: that immigrants need drivers licenses to get to work and doctors appointments, that they play a key role in the states workforce, that it would prevent some hit-and-run accidents, that it would result in more Bay State residents with car insurance, and that it would give the state some additional revenue because of licensing and registration fees. Licensing allows businesses to attract workers they cannot currently access.. More on Driver's Licenses. GOP state committee member Debby Dugan of Watertown expressed similar concerns, and she also said that such a bill is enacted, it would lead to more illegal immigration. I think the RMV [Registry of Motor Vehicles] is not equipped to properly vet people coming to the United States from over 100 different countries and being able to reliably decipher their documentation that, first of all, in the different language and second of all, for validity.. Congestion pricing and other traffic mitigation options are back on the table. Thank you for your support, but we can't have this in here.". House Democrats in Massachusetts have passed a controversial measure that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. 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. Huanhua Road The first must be either a valid unexpired foreign passport or a valid unexpired consular identification. The hearing featured a wide array of supporters of the bills, including various Democrats in the Massachusetts legislature, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, 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). Sign up for the GBH News Politics email newsletter, featuring complete local politics coverage along with insights from our team of political reporters. Senate Democrats are The bill still needs to go through a committee for review, but the deadline for that review has now been delayed until March. This law provides driver's licenses to applicants who submit a valid foreign passport or consular identification and proof of residency, regardless of legal The MIRA Coalition firmly opposes any and all efforts to repeal the Work and Family Mobility Act, said Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, in a call with GBH. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! Both Democratic candidates, Maura Healey and Sonia Chang-Daz, have voiced their support for the veto override. 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. Those seeking a license must present at least two documents. The law specifically mandates that the state Registrar of Motor Vehicles develop procedures and regulations to ensure that license Full transcript of Bidens State of the Union address, Mass. At My Undocumented Life we provide up-to-date information and resources for undocumented immigrants and allies. The Massachusetts House passed legislation Wednesday that opens a pathway for some undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses in the state, a Countries that have consular offices each have their own varied requirements to get an identification card. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. She said the benefits of allowing individuals to apply for a drivers license regardless of immigration status will become quickly apparent. It will also require all drivers to take a driving test and enroll in auto insurance, which will benefit the state financially. Under the legislation, the Registry of Motor Vehicles would be required to come up with regulations about what specific kinds of documentation are acceptable. 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. And this time they could actually pass. Pitching the bill as a road safety and immigration measure, supporters said it would ensure that some of the 185,000 immigrants who already live in Massachusetts without legal status are properly tested before driving and relieve their fears of traffic stops spiraling into devastating consequences. Charlie Baker. 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. But the legislature gets the final word. WebLutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a champion for all uprooted people. Oversee budget development for new programs within RIS and update budgets for existing programs. 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. Phil Murphy in December 2019 after a long debate, allows for a standard drivers license to be issued to immigrants regardless of legal status. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! To apply for a standard license under the new bill, an undocumented immigrant would need to show the RMV a foreign passport or a consular identification document, as well as a drivers license from another state, a foreign drivers license, a birth certificate, a foreign national ID card, or a marriage certificate from any U.S. territory. Please join us as we make a difference in the lives of newcomers. They made their voices heard on Wednesday afternoon. Kathy Lynch, a Republican state committee member from Westford, said she worries that the bill could result in fraud. Lawmakers have long considered drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. Whelan said the new rules would put too heavy a burden on those issuing licenses. New to NewBostonPost? Charlie Bakers veto. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. If approved, undocumented immigrants could only acquire standard drivers licenses but not federally authorized REAL ID-compliant versions. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. American Chestnut Trees To Make A Comeback? Copyright2022 HongmeiCo.,Ltd.Allrightsreserved. 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. The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. Sixteen other states already have laws on the books allowing undocumented immigrants to acquire licenses, Crighton told his colleagues. The bill still must be approved by the Massachusetts Senate, also controlled by Democrats, before heading to Baker. Join us. "We can't have this in here. Over the course of Thursday's debate, senators beat back attempts by Republicans and a handful of Democrats to distinguish the licenses that could be awarded to undocumented immigrants, either by offering them entirely separate "driver privilege cards" or by requiring a standard Massachusetts license issued to an immigrant without legal status to be printed in a different color or declare that it is not eligible as a form of identification. This session, having amassed enough votes to steamroll a veto, they went for it. 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.". BOSTON (AP) The Massachusetts House approved a bill Wednesday that would let immigrants in the country illegally obtain state drivers licenses. Conservative media is hard to find in Massachusetts. 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. The bill is now backed by the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police and most Massachusetts sheriffs and district attorneys. Some Massachusetts residents want drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. "It's never easy to collect signatures. 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. State law allows petitioners to bring forth a referendum to strike a newly enacted law if they collect, in this case, 40,120 signatures from Massachusetts voters, of which no more than 10,030 could come from one county, within 90 days after its passage. 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. Not to mention, drivers with licenses are better equipped to obtain car insurance. Forty-seven percent said they opposed the drivers license bill, and 46 percent supported it, with 7 percent unsure. A bill that would make undocumented immigrants eligible for drivers licenses has cleared its first major hurdle, with House members passing it with a veto-proof 120-36 majority. Analysis: Mass. Sen. Jim Guthrie (R-McCammon) testifies before the Senate Transportation Committee regarding his bill to make a restricted driver's license available to all Idaho residents regardless of immigration status. Nick Collins of Boston, Anne Gobi of Spencer, Marc Pacheco of Taunton, Walter Timilty of Milton and John Velis of Westfield voted against the bill, as did all three Republican senators Bruce Tarr of Gloucester, Ryan Fattman of Sutton and Patrick O'Connor of Weymouth. Justice Kimberly S. Budd said leaders need to advocate for people who cant afford their own counsel. Driver's Licenses Bill Is Law. Eight other states are considering similar laws. Granting drivers licenses to illegal immigration is the wrong approach, he said. ", "We are once again overcome with happiness, pride and gratitude for today's historic vote in the Massachusetts Senate," 32BJ SEIU Vice President Roxana Rivera and Brazilian Worker Center Executive Director Lenita Reason, who together lead the coalition, said in a joint statement. The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. These newly-licensed drivers will generate about $6 million in initial fee revenue over the first three years. The @ma_senate looks forward to overriding this misguided decision.". Mass. Activists demanding Massachusetts lawmakers override Gov. All rights reserved. Sixteen other states already allow undocumented immigrants to acquire licenses. Opponents of undocumented drivers license bill point to potential for illegal voting. Banking as an Undocumented Immigrant. Granting immigration status is the job of the federal government. Immigration reform advocates and some public safety leaders have pressed, often loudly, for more than a decade to grant residents without legal status in the U.S. some form of access to driver's licenses. Full Worm Moon: Will Conditions In MA Favor A Moonbow? At least 16 states, including Connecticut and Vermont, allow residents to get a drivers license or permit regardless of immigration status, supporters say.
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