Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The bill also states that immigrants eligible for the drivers licenses would not be registered to vote as a result. 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. ", 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.". 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. 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. 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 bill still needs to go through a committee for review, but the deadline for that review has now been delayed until March. The legislation, approved on a 120-36 vote, would require individuals provide documentation to obtain a license including proof of their identity, residency in the state and date of birth. 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. 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. House lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill, which passed by a 120-36 vote. Now dip your toe in the water for two bucks $2 for two months. Market data provided by Factset. The vote was 32 to 8, with five Democrats voting with the chambers Republicans against the bill, State House News Service (SHNS) reported. 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Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. Legislators, who often wrap up work at the last minute or blow past deadlines altogether, faced pressure to finalize a bill soon with the Sept. 6 statewide primary less than three months away. Some Massachusetts residents want drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. The bill provides illegal immigrants the opportunity to obtain a drivers license in the Commonwealth starting in July 2023. Many argue that we should let the federal government do its job when it comes to immigration reform. However, while the legislation is backed by some local and law enforcement leaders, critics say others have refrained from taking a stance on the issue. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. 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It will also make it possible for immigrants and refugees to go about their lives with more peace of mind, Sweet said. I do not think that we should be rewarding people for being in the country illegally, Maloney said in a phone interview. Legislators have several more steps to complete before the bill can become state law. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Republican candidate Geoff Diehl said he would support a ballot question to repeal the legislation, according to statement from his campaign. Milford resident Maureen Maloney, a longtime opponent of the proposal whose son Matthew Denice was killed by a drunk driver who did not have legal status in the U.S., will chair the committee. The Massachusetts House passed legislation Wednesday that opens a pathway for some undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses in the state, a Room 8055, 5th floor. The bill thwarts the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in their efforts for investigations into illegal immigration and crime.. 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 Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. Critics contend it could have negative impacts on public safety and could threaten the electoral process. We're talking about a situation now where, under the current statute as I understand it, all the rules associated with determining lawful presence are going to go away. Speakers pepped up the crowd and recounted the license policy's long road toward becoming law, with one legislator recalling that it was a young Rep. Marty Walsh who first filed the bill many years ago. Charlie Baker. Brendan Crighton and Adam Gomez will attend, along with advocates. Forty-seven percent said they opposed the drivers license bill, and 46 percent supported it, with 7 percent unsure. Listen 5:50 Regional News Rep. Richard Neal supports driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts Alden Bourne , May 9, 2022 That surplus-bound outlook is, well, pick your description from the latest batch offered this week: "rosy," as Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation President Eileen McAnneny put it; "absolutely unprecedented," in the words of MTF's Executive Vice President Doug Howgate; or "just crazy," as Baker told business leaders. "I have very grave concerns about the impacts this bill will have on public safety and the integrity of our elections," Rep. Steve Xiarhos, a Republican, said Wednesday on social media. 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. Starting July 1, 2023, anyone in Massachusetts regardless of immigration status can apply for a standard driver's license. Charlie Baker. 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. On Thursday, Crighton said, On the issue of voting, weve debunked it again and again, and again.. Nineteen states have laws in place that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers license, including Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Washington. 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. Opponents of undocumented drivers license bill point to potential for illegal voting. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Charlie Baker on the legislation. City hopes state legislature boosts shelter aid. Some Massachusetts residents want drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. Granting immigration status is the job of the federal government. Sen. Adam Gomez told members of the Senate that the bill would give undocumented members of the community the same flexibility and options everyone else has in driving. 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 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. Additional drivers licenses equal more revenue through application fees, Gomez said. 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. and last updated 9:36 AM, Nov 09, 2022. Oversee budget development for new programs within RIS and update budgets for existing programs. Nineteen states have laws in place that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers license, including Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Washington. Analysis: Mass. A Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published in the spring showed residents were divided on the issue. Charlie Baker's formal opposition. Support GBH. Here's what we know. 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. Gomez called concerns that the bill would unleash voter fraud a "red herring.". All rights reserved. The ability to drive our car to the store, to the doctor's appointments and to take our kids to sports practices, or even getting involved with extracurricular activities while granting them a peace of mind that they should that, said Gomez, a Senate co-sponsor. How legitimate are those concerns? Otherwise, a more common initiative petition likely could not go before voters until 2024, more than a year after the July 1, 2023 start date on which immigrants without legal status can begin applying for licenses. Maloney said she believes its absolutely possible to collect the signatures necessary to get on the ballot in November. By, Advocates push for Mass. With override, House moves Massachusetts closer to drivers licenses for unauthorized immigrants, Baker vetoes immigrant license access bill. New to NewBostonPost? With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. But youve found it. 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. 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. Legal Statement. 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. Thats a problem, Baker said. "It's never easy to collect signatures. 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. Sixteen other states already have laws on the books allowing undocumented immigrants to acquire licenses, Crighton told his colleagues. By 2019, 50,000 undocumented immigrants had taken written exams, vision tests, and road tests to get drivers licenses. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about or keeping documents related to immigration status. And it puts tremendous pressure on cities and towns to do the cleanup on the back end.. Critics of the measure have argued that drivers licenses are a privilege that should not be offered to those not in the country legally. "That was never really on the table here in Massachusetts," he said. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. However, for right now and today, I am looking forward to the ceremonial bill-signing," Senate President Karen Spilka told reporters about half an hour before gathering with other lawmakers, union leaders and activists for a "bill signing" ceremony in the State Library, across the building from the governor's office. There about 250,000 undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts, according to a 2016 report from the American Immigration Council. The new law will allow undocumented immigrants to apply for a standard state drivers license beginning July 1, 2023. We post scholarship opportunities that are open to undocumented students, strategies for navigating the educational system, information on how to apply for DACA/Advance Parole, news on DAPA, and much more. "This bill would provide broad benefits to our municipalities. Senators voted 10-29 to reject Fattman's amendment. Dongpeng Debao Commercial Center. A two-thirds vote in the House and Senate would override a potential veto by Baker. At least 16 states, including Connecticut and Vermont, allow residents to get a drivers license or permit regardless of immigration status, supporters say. It would most likely require a two-thirds majority in each chamber of the Massachusetts Legislature for this bill to pass. The title of both bills An Act Relative To Work and Family Mobility During and Subsequent to the COVID-19 Emergency doesnt mention either drivers licenses or illegal immigrants. Migrants have faced a warm welcome but major challenges, like housing and education. Lenny Mirra-vs.-Kristin Kassner State Rep Race One of Several Massachusetts Elections Decided By One Vote, ) before the Joint Committee on Transportation. Conservative media is hard to find in Massachusetts. (Thomas Kurmeier via Getty Images), "We are a nation of immigrants. 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. This is a concrete step the Commonwealth could take to improve the daily lives of immigrants.. 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