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. If opponents of the new law pursue that action -- and are successful at gathering signatures -- the timing could line up almost perfectly to put the question before voters at the Nov. 8 election. Proponents said the measure will improve road safety and assuage immigrants worries of being revealed as undocumented and face deportation because of a routine traffic stop or accident. Thats bad policy. Please join us as we make a difference in the lives of newcomers. This bill is a free ticket to government benefits, Lynch said. Support GBH. By, Advocates push for Mass. "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.". 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Dongpeng Debao Commercial Center. The bill still needs to go through a committee for review, but the deadline for that review has now been delayed until March. The bill has won support from many of the states sheriffs and district attorneys and the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police. 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. Gomez called concerns that the bill would unleash voter fraud a "red herring.". House Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, bill sponsors Reps. Christine Barber and Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and Sens. The Super Bowl: What Has Happened to America? It now moves to the Democrat-controlled Senate for approval, and then to Gov. The bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license in Massachusetts will now become law. Under the new law, someone in the country illegally would have to provide a passport or consular identification document to apply for a driver's license. Attorney General Maura Healey implored Bay State employers to think about abortion laws, too, saying that heightened restrictions being put in place in other states could cost billions of dollars in productivity "because it actually affects whether women go to school, stay in school, join the workforce, stay in the workforce, contribute to our economy. 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. Phil Murphy in December 2019 after a long debate, allows for a standard drivers license to be issued to immigrants regardless of legal status. Fanghua Guangyuan Electronics Co., Ltd. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. 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. Vote No On All, Massachusetts Bill Would Provide Free College For Illegal, Massachusetts Senate Bill Would Provide In-State Tuition To, With Howitzers and Helicopters, Western States Trigger, Three Massachusetts Members of Congress Backing, Elizabeth Warren Wants To See More Defense Contractors, Maura Healey To Release Proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Budget This Week, West Roxbury State Rep Cashing In With Massachusetts Biotechnology Council Gig. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures. Secretary of State Bill Galvin turns down 20% pay raise. Both Democratic candidates, Maura Healey and Sonia Chang-Daz, have voiced their support for the veto override. Ensure that financial reports are prepared according to LIRS, PRM and ORR requirements. The formal legislative session ends July 31. Brendan Crighton and Adam Gomez will attend, along with advocates. WebMIRA is proud to be part of the Driving Families Forward Coalition, which is advocating for the Work and Family Mobility Act). Sign up for the GBH News Politics email newsletter, featuring complete local politics coverage along with insights from our team of political reporters. WebMIRA is proud to be part of the Driving Families Forward Coalition, which is advocating for the Work and Family Mobility Act). The original version of the bill was introduced almost 20 years ago, and multiple iterations have cropped up and failed, including one from then-state Rep. Marty Walsh in 2007, who is now the U.S. Secretary of Labor. "We still need to do something like that if we really want to get our arms around this.". The bill, H.4805, would allow those without legal status to apply for a driver's license if they can show proof of their identity and residency in Massachusetts. BOSTON (CBS) - The Senate passed a bill that would give immigrants without legal status a pathway to obtain a Massachusetts driver's license. 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. House lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill, which passed by a 120-36 vote. In an event that went more than three hours before it featured any difference of opinion, mostly supporters testified in favor of two bills (S.2289/H.3456) before the Joint Committee on Transportation. Banking as an Undocumented Immigrant. However, states regulate who may receive a drivers license or identification card. 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. WebLutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a champion for all uprooted people. Sixteen other states already have laws on the books allowing undocumented immigrants to acquire licenses, Crighton told his colleagues. "They changed the argument, they changed the debate -- you changed the debate," Mariano said, referring to advocates in the audience, "and made it into a public safety issue. Legislature Overrides Gov. But the decisive roll calls (119-36 in the House and 32-8 in the Senate) may have just triggered the start of a larger fight. ". 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. Further, newly-licensed drivers are likely to generate an additional $5 million per year in tax revenue once the law is fully rolled out. We've gained support from a wide range of stakeholders over the course of a number of years, said lead sponsor Sen. Brendan Crighton ahead of the vote on Thursday. Whelan said the new rules would put too heavy a burden on those issuing licenses. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. Some who opposed the bill agreed with Gomez on one part of his testimony: that it is a pro-business bill. Immigrants are being squeezed under kitchen tables, into church basements and into shelters, they say. 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. Drivers licenses for these people will only serve to encourage more undocumented people to move to Massachusetts.. Nineteen states have laws in place that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers license, including Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Washington. This law provides driver's licenses to applicants who submit a valid foreign passport or consular identification and proof of residency, regardless of legal Our streets will be safer for everyone when all drivers have passed road tests, and vehicles are registered and insured," a letter from 19 mayors and town managers supporting the bill read in part. 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. Charlie Baker's opposition. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The vote was 32 to 8, with five Democrats voting with the chambers Republicans against the bill, State House News Service (SHNS) reported. The override was not the only display of political strength Democrats made this week. 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. And the main reason for that is no ones ever been able to explain to me how you can actually document and verify someone who is undocumented.. He also said that Massachusetts cannot wait for Congress to offer protections for people who are in the country illegally. 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. A bill that would make undocumented immigrants eligible for Massachusetts driver's licenses, appears poised for passage this week after more than 20 years in the making. Support GBH. How legitimate are those concerns? At least 16 states, including Connecticut and Vermont, allow residents to get a drivers license or permit regardless of immigration status, supporters say. "That was never really on the table here in Massachusetts," he said. |Products Report on 2014 legislation shows most domestic workers don't get basic rights and employers aren't trying to comply. On Thursday, Crighton said, On the issue of voting, weve debunked it again and again, and again.. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. But youve found it. Additional drivers licenses equal more revenue through application fees, Gomez said. At least one document must contain a photograph. Granting immigration status is the job of the federal government. 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. Huanhua Road MA Mobile Sports Betting Start Time Set Ahead Of March Madness, Free MA Community College Outlined In Gov's Budget. The Massachusetts House on Wednesday voted to override the governor's veto of the driver's license bill. 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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. The intention would be to put the question to voters on the November 2022 ballot. Lenny Mirra-vs.-Kristin Kassner State Rep Race One of Several Massachusetts Elections Decided By One Vote, ) before the Joint Committee on Transportation. The House voted 11936 on Wednesday to override the veto. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. The Senate signed off on the deal and a House vote could come as early as next week. Join us. The bill still requires approval by the Massachusetts Senate, also controlled by Democrats, before heading to Baker. 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.. 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. The bill would not register undocumented immigrants to vote. But youve found it. View All Newsletters. 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. Wakeman worked in 2021 on a trio of ballot question campaigns, including one seeking a statewide voter identification law, that fell short of collecting enough signatures to remain in the mix. Driver's Licenses, ID Cards Being Replaced After Printer Mishap, Mass. The new law will allow immigrants without legal status to apply for a standard state drivers license beginning July 1, 2023. This article was updated to include additional comments. This is a well-vetted piece of legislation. This legislation is distracting us not just from the needs of U.S. citizens but even people here who are here illegally. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. WebLutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a champion for all uprooted people. 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. 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. 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. No. Illegal immigrants in Massachusetts will be able to obtain driver's licenses after state lawmakers voted Thursday to override a veto from Republican Gov. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. Opponents of a new law that will allow immigrants without legal status to seek driver's licenses took a preliminary step Monday toward asking voters to scrap the measure, while Democrats celebrated their success in pushing the bill and overcoming Gov. |Contact Us. Listen 5:50 Regional News Rep. Richard Neal supports driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts Alden Bourne , May 9, 2022 The state Senate joined the House Thursday in overriding a veto by Gov. "Leah and I will not sit by idly and watch the consequences of this bill take away the safety and democratic rights of Massachusetts residents. If passed into law, Massachusetts would join 16 other states and the District of Columbia which already have similar laws. 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. State House News Service | "We can't have this in here. Sarah Betancourt is a bilingual reporter for GBH News, and longtime Boston muckraker. The bill still must be approved by the Massachusetts Senate, also controlled by Democrats, before heading to Baker. Eight other states are considering similar laws. All rights reserved, Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter, Mass. Sarah Betancourt is a bilingual reporter for GBH News, and longtime Boston muckraker. The bill also states that immigrants eligible for the drivers licenses would not be registered to vote as a result. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Charlie Baker, who has opposed similar legislation in the past. Convening a ballot question campaign committee is an early step along the road toward putting a referendum before voters, but it still indicates the law could be short-lived if petitioners -- who have support from Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl -- collect enough signatures in the next two and a half months. "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. Similar ceremonies for other legislation usually feature Baker wielding a pen over the parchment, but in this case it was Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano wielding their override pens. Tom Homan: Biden is most concerned with optics. Charlie Baker delivers his state of the state address Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, in the House Chamber at the Statehouse, in Boston. , 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). You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Oversee budget development for new programs within RIS and update budgets for existing programs. 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. "There's a ton of policies and procedures and training that will have to be done across the registry to actually pull this off, and there's no one who works for the registry currently who knows what any of these foreign documents look like or how to determine their validity," he said. Massachusetts Gov. "We believe that could lead to stigma, open up opportunities to discriminate," Crighton said. American Chestnut Trees To Make A Comeback? Baker vetoed the bill last month, saying in a letter to the House that it "undoes a critical safeguard to the driver's license issuance process" and that the Registry of Motor Vehicles doesn't have the expertise or ability to verify many types of documents from other countries. The first must be either a valid unexpired foreign passport or a valid unexpired consular identification. 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 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. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! New to NewBostonPost? Ensure that financial reports are prepared according to LIRS, PRM and ORR requirements. 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. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. Massachusetts to allow illegal immigrants to apply for drivers The Democratic-controlled Massachusetts House of Representatives has passed a bill that will allow undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses. 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. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about or keeping documents related to immigration status. Opponents of undocumented drivers license bill point to potential for illegal voting. 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. Kathy Lynch, a Republican state committee member from Westford, said she worries that the bill could result in fraud. Under the legislation, the Registry of Motor Vehicles would be required to come up with regulations about what specific kinds of documentation are acceptable. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. "That's democracy.". At least one piece of documentation must have a photograph. Driver's Licenses Bill Is Law. "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. By 2019, 50,000 undocumented immigrants had taken written exams, vision tests, and road tests to get drivers licenses. 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. 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. Congestion pricing and other traffic mitigation options are back on the table. Charlie APS ASSESSMENT: False. A topless marijuana dispensary may be coming to Western Mass. Trying to ensure our drivers licenses have integrity and cannot be misused for various purposes those are important things, and those things dont go away because of the hardships weve heard about.. Mass. Now dip your toe in the water for two bucks , Five Social Policy Changes Maura Healey's Administration May, Unsure About Massachusetts Ballot Questions? Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. She was a reporter for CommonWealth Magazine, and senior immigration reporter for Law360. Legislators have several more steps to complete before the bill can become state law. State Representative Christine Barber (D-Somerville) was among those who cited economic reasons for giving drivers licenses to illegals. I dont support drivers licenses for people who are undocumented, Baker said during a 2014 GBH debate. "And everyone deserves to feel safe and get to work, pick up children and be a part of their communities without fear. Are we asking them to become experts in foreign documentation and forgery detection? Whelan said. 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 Booming inflation intertwining with a runaway-train housing market have created major struggles for voters, who appear more likely in new polling to have economic issues top of mind. Opioid overdose deaths reached a new high in 2021, according to data released this week, fueled in part by the widespread presence of fentanyl and the anguish imposed by the pandemic. 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. Charlie Baker's formal opposition. 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. The poll was conducted from April 24 to April 28 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points. DeSantis detailed the list of legislative proposals during a press conference in Jacksonville on Thursday, urging Florida state legislators to approve the initiatives that would increase criminal penalties for human smugglers, enforce a statewide ban on employers hiring illegal aliens, and prohibit counties from issuing drivers licenses to Its why 16 states and the District of Columbia already allow immigrants without legal status to get a drivers license if they meet certain conditions. With override, House moves Massachusetts closer to drivers licenses for unauthorized immigrants, Baker vetoes immigrant license access bill. 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. 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. As of 2016, there are about 250,000 undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts, according to a report from the American Immigration Council. Zip code: 510375 Here's what we know. I am one of those who comes to the chamber concerned about some of the provisions before us, concerned because a drivers license is one of the most, if not the most, recognizable, important pieces of identification in our society, bar none, Bruce Tarr, the chambers minority leader, said at the start of the session, the news service reported. Other states like California, New York and Utah already do the same. Copyright2022 HongmeiCo.,Ltd.Allrightsreserved. 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. Applicants who cannot provide proof of lawful The bill would open up access to the former license type, which cannot be used to board a flight or access a federal building, regardless of immigration status. The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. Without the support of Republicans who negotiated the final bill, lawmakers began advancing a measure to make mail-in voting and expanded early voting permanent options in Massachusetts. 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. Democrat Sens. This session, having amassed enough votes to steamroll a veto, they went for it. Contrary to prevailing opinions and fears, undocumented immigrants do have banking rights within the United States and can open bank accounts. A bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers' licenses has passed the Massachusetts Senate. The hearing featured a wide array of supporters of the bills, including various Democrats in the Massachusetts legislature, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. 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. Senators voted 32-8 in favor of the controversial And it puts tremendous pressure on cities and towns to do the cleanup on the back end.". In your inbox every Thursday morning. The Massachusetts House passed a bill allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses in the state in February by a margin that would override a veto as well, according to SHNS. ", 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.". Forty-seven percent said they opposed the drivers license bill, and 46 percent supported it, with 7 percent unsure. The state House passed a similar bill by a veto-proof 120-36 margin in February. "This bill means trust and dignity for immigrants in our state who lack federal status," Chang-Daz said. Proponents of the bill have touted it as beneficial for road safety, the news service reported, asserting that the approximately 185,000 undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts would be tested before driving. The law specifically mandates that the state Registrar of Motor Vehicles develop procedures and regulations to ensure that license It would most likely require a two-thirds majority in each chamber of the Massachusetts Legislature for this bill to pass. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Sign up for the GBH News Politics email newsletter, featuring complete local politics coverage along with insights from our team of political reporters. Immigrants without legal status to apply for a standard state drivers license or card. For approval, and big ideas that shape our world piece of documentation must a! Gbh, Transparency in coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures become experts in foreign documentation and forgery detection Lynch said the states and. 46 percent supported it, with 7 percent unsure protections for people who are in the.. She worries that the bill agreed with Gomez on one part of the Modern Democratic.! 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