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. 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 lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill, which passed by a 120-36 vote. 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. 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. New to NewBostonPost? 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 is a free ticket to government benefits, Lynch said. 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. Support GBH. ", "Green card holders are required to explicitly demonstrate lawful presence, OK? The law, signed by Gov. Both chambers are controlled by Democrats. 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. Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. BOSTON People living in the U.S. illegally would 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.. The increase is "problematic for Massachusetts and for our country," said Commissioner Margret Cooke. 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. 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. 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.. Further, newly-licensed drivers are likely to generate an additional $5 million per year in tax revenue once the law is fully rolled out. The first must be either a valid unexpired foreign passport or a valid unexpired consular identification. 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 "This bill would provide broad benefits to our municipalities. ", 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.". The vote was 32 to 8, with five Democrats voting with the chambers Republicans against the bill, State House News Service (SHNS) reported. the bill would go into effect on July 1, 2023, and could help an estimated 78,000 people in Massachusetts apply for a standard Massachusetts drivers license, 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. 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. The title of both bills . May 30, 2022 Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has vetoed a bill that would allow immigrants without legal status to get driver's licenses. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. We fully support submitting this question to the people to give them a direct say in their future," Diehl said Thursday without making clear. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. 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. |News 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. |Service Senators voted 10-29 to reject Fattman's amendment. 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. Nineteen states have laws in place that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers license, including Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Washington. 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 bill would not register undocumented immigrants to vote. With respect to our Congressional delegation, whos fighting the good fight, do we really think that Congress is going to find consensus on meaningful immigration reform anytime soon?. Starting July 1, 2023, anyone in Massachusetts regardless of immigration status can apply for a standard driver's license. City hopes state legislature boosts shelter aid. House Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, bill sponsors Reps. Christine Barber and Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and Sens. Ninety-two representatives and 16 senators face neither a declared primary nor a general election opponent, essentially granting them a pleasant stroll into another two years in office with next to no campaigning required, no need to answer to their opponents, and none of those candidate debates and Q&A forums. Not to mention, drivers with licenses are better equipped to obtain car insurance. The bill would also make it less likely for immigrants to leave the scene of an accident because they would face less of a threat of deportation with a drivers license, backers said. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File), The Massachusetts State House in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. 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. A two-thirds vote in the House and Senate would override a potential veto by Baker. 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. APS ASSESSMENT: False. 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. 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. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles The bill also states that immigrants eligible for the drivers licenses would not be registered to vote as a result. 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. 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. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. The state House passed a similar bill by a veto-proof 120-36 margin in February. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. "We believe that could lead to stigma, open up opportunities to discriminate," Crighton said. Jun 24, 2021. Oversee budget development for new programs within RIS and update budgets for existing programs. A No vote on the question would repeal the law (H.4805) that is scheduled to make illegal immigrants eligible to obtain drivers licenses starting on July 1, 2023. Republican candidate Geoff Diehl said he would support a ballot question to repeal the legislation, according to statement from his campaign. Tel: +86 20 81608506, Home ", 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.". Charlie Baker. "Sorry, we can't have this," Brownsberger told the crowd. 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. 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. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. 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. February 16, 2022 20 BOSTON (AP) The Massachusetts House approved a bill Wednesday that would let immigrants in the country illegally obtain state If he vetoes the bill, it would go back to the Legislature to see if the veto would be overridden. 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. 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. 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. In November, voters in Massachusetts will decide on rejecting a state law that allows illegal immigrants to obtain a drivers license. Charlie Baker delivers his state of the state address Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, in the House Chamber at the Statehouse, in Boston. It could also prevent undocumented immigrants from fleeing police during a traffic stop for the sake of preventing identification as an undocumented immigrant and risking deportation, supporters say, according to SHNS. "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. And it puts tremendous pressure on cities and towns to do the cleanup on the back end.. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. DUTIES. In your inbox every Thursday morning. Huanhua Road The poll was conducted from April 24 to April 28 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points. Baker vetoed the bill on May 27, saying the Registry of Motor Vehicles did not have the capacity to verify the identities of immigrants without legal status and arguing that the bill "significantly increases the risk that noncitizens will be registered to vote.". 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 Listen Live: Classic and Contemporary Celtic, Listen Live: Cape, Coast and Islands NPR Station, The civil rights memorials that expose America's ugly history and warn of repeating the past, Boston Public Radio full show: March 1, 2023, No 'magic sleep button:' Separating sleep misinformation from facts on YouTube, Finding resilience in Black love, through good times and bad, At least 36 are dead in Greece after two trains collided. 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. Undocumented workers in some states must choose between driving illegally and risking exposure to the virus by sharing rides. A Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published in the spring showed residents were divided on the issue. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. State House News Service | Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Although news of a possible repeal effort spread last week, Baker on Monday said he is "not familiar with that process" when asked if he would support the referendum, adding that he "made pretty clear what my rationale was for vetoing the law.". If the committee collects 40,120 certified signatures by Aug. 24 for a local election official to certify, and then file with the Secretary of States office by Sept. 7, the question can go on the November 2022 ballot. All rights reserved, 53K Mass. These newly-licensed drivers will generate about $6 million in initial fee revenue over the first three years. The new law will allow immigrants without legal status to apply for a standard state drivers license beginning July 1, 2023. Immigrants are being squeezed under kitchen tables, into church basements and into shelters, they say. Congestion pricing and other traffic mitigation options are back on the table. Whelan said the new rules would put too heavy a burden on those issuing licenses. ", "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. 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. 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. If passed into law, Massachusetts would join 16 other states and the District of Columbia which already have similar laws. An aide to Baker said he supports existing state laws that allow those in the country legally to obtain drivers licenses. Liwan District, Guangzhou,Guangdong (P.R.China) This is what I keep hearing from my district every time I talk about this issue. 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. Full Worm Moon: Will Conditions In MA Favor A Moonbow? Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr rose in opposition to the bill, calling it very, very problematic and citing concerns over voter registration. Hongmei Neon Equipment Factory Driver's Licenses, ID Cards Being Replaced After Printer Mishap, Mass. The formal legislative session ends July 31. The measure is about being safe on the road, according to Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. 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. Charlie Baker on the legislation. Eight other states are considering similar laws. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. She was a reporter for CommonWealth Magazine, and senior immigration reporter for Law360. Some who opposed the bill agreed with Gomez on one part of his testimony: that it is a pro-business bill. At least one piece of documentation must have a photograph. But for How Long? Thats bad policy. 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. Charlie Baker delivers his state of the state address Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, in the House Chamber at the Statehouse, in Boston. 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. Granting immigration status is the job of the federal government. Charlie Some Massachusetts residents want drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. The ability to apply for a drivers license is the number one issue for immigrant families, Barber added. They will also have to provide one of five additional documents: a drivers license from another U.S. state or territory; a birth certificate; a foreign national identification card; a foreign drivers license; or a marriage certificate or divorce decree from any U.S. state or territory. House Democrats in Massachusetts have passed a controversial measure that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. Charlie Baker, who has opposed similar legislation in the past. 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 Mass. 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. 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. Gomez called concerns that the bill would unleash voter fraud a "red herring.". 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. Room 8055, 5th floor. Report on 2014 legislation shows most domestic workers don't get basic rights and employers aren't trying to comply. Both Maloney and Dube supported Diehl at last month's Republican convention in Springfield. New to NewBostonPost? 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. An Act Relative To Work and Family Mobility During and Subsequent to the COVID-19 Emergency doesnt mention either drivers licenses or illegal immigrants. bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses, Pandemic Renews Debate Over Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Workers, Licensed Undocumented Immigrants May Lead To Safer Roads, Connecticut Finds. A bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers' licenses has passed the Massachusetts Senate. As a result, millions of voters will have no alternatives in the House and Senate if, say, they are frustrated by wherever their elected legislators land on tax relief, an area where the cloudy outlook has yet to give way to sunshine. 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. 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. BOSTON (AP) The Massachusetts House approved a bill Wednesday that would let immigrants in the country illegally obtain state drivers licenses. Republican Gov. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about or keeping documents related to immigration status. 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.. "That was never really on the table here in Massachusetts," he said. Now dip your toe in the water for two bucks $2 for two months. 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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. It now moves to the Democrat-controlled Senate for approval, and then to Gov. If approved, undocumented immigrants could only acquire standard drivers licenses but not federally authorized REAL ID-compliant versions. Legislatures considering extending driver’s licenses to unauthorized immigrants debate such potential "Without a license, a routine traffic stop can have a lasting and traumatic set of repercussions: arrest, ICE detention, deportation. If passed into law, immigrants would qualify for a Massachusetts standard They made their voices heard on Wednesday afternoon. Drivers licenses for these people will only serve to encourage more undocumented people to move to Massachusetts.. 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. State Representative Christine Barber (D-Somerville) was among those who cited economic reasons for giving drivers licenses to illegals. Under the legislation, the Registry of Motor Vehicles would be required to come up with regulations about what specific kinds of documentation are acceptable. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. Were 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. Applicants who cannot provide proof of lawful They made their voices heard on Wednesday afternoon. Baker voiced his concerns about the bill Thursday morning, SHNS reported. Analysis: Mass. 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 Now dip your toe in the water for two bucks , Five Social Policy Changes Maura Healey's Administration May, Unsure About Massachusetts Ballot Questions? "I'm not throwing stones, (but) I filed legislation three years ago, before the pandemic, to significantly shift investments in primary care, addiction services, behavioral health and gerontology because we underfund those things. "Today, the House took a significant step towards bringing all Massachusetts drivers under the same licensing and insurance standards, regardless of immigration status," House Speaker Ron Mariano said. 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. 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. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. 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. Opponents of undocumented drivers license bill point to potential for illegal voting. Whether it's Healey or someone else, the next governor will have their work cut out on a series of intimidating and harrowing obstacles even if the state remains on good fiscal footing. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. View All Newsletters. We have far more important problems to fix, Kropper said. And join the real revolution. Dongpeng Debao Commercial Center. She's covered politics, immigration, incarceration, and health for The Guardian, DigBoston, The Boston Globe, and The Associated Press. 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.
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