Despite the overwhelming support from the Legislature, Massachusetts residents are split on allowing undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses, a recent poll showed. Senators voted 32-8 in favor of the controversial 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The state Senate joined the House Thursday in overriding a veto by Gov. 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. But youve found it. By Christian M. Wade Statehouse Reporter. New to NewBostonPost? "It's never easy to collect signatures. Charlie Baker. 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. "This bill means trust and dignity for immigrants in our state who lack federal status," Chang-Daz said. Charlie Baker's formal opposition. 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. Ensure that financial reports are prepared according to LIRS, PRM and ORR requirements. Now dip your toe in the water for two bucks $2 for two months. 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. Please join us as we make a difference in the lives of newcomers. All the fears and the arguments and the objections have fallen short, said Gonzalez. Market data provided by Factset. 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. The first must be either a valid unexpired foreign passport or a valid unexpired consular identification. This story was updated to include more details from the legislative debate, as well as reaction to the vote and background on the issue. We always have," Baker told the crowd at a New England Council event. However, the opposition felt as though it may benefit big business at the expense of the American worker. 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. Patricia Mae G. Santos, M.D., Kanan Shah, M.D., Francesca M. Gany, M.D., and Fumiko Chino, M.D. 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. No. Maloney said she believes its absolutely possible to collect the signatures necessary to get on the ballot in November. Geoff Diehl, a gubernatorial candidate for the state Republican Party, told media in a statement last week, this is a bad bill, and said he would support efforts to overturn in a ballot initiative. Sign up for the GBH News Politics email newsletter, featuring complete local politics coverage along with insights from our team of political reporters. 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, 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. Outside of spending levels, the budget talks -- which opened with brief public remarks before moving into private -- will feature some significant policy decisions as well, including a Senate proposal to create new licensing protections for Massachusetts reproductive health and gender-affirming care providers who may face legal challenges originating in other states. Charlie Baker has expressed opposition to similar efforts in the past. "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. Critics of the measure have argued that drivers licenses are a privilege that should not be offered to those not in the country legally. 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. Senate Democrats are also hoping for a two-thirds majority vote. 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. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. Secretary of State William Galvin has publicly refuted that claim. It is unnecessary because we are just focused on the ability of someone to drive.. Connecticut looks to join Massachusetts, others states in seeking ways to curb deadly highway wrong-way crashes. 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. At My Undocumented Life we provide up-to-date information and resources for undocumented immigrants and allies. and last updated 9:36 AM, Nov 09, 2022. The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. The margin was still more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto from the governor. 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. He also said that Massachusetts cannot wait for Congress to offer protections for people who are in the country illegally. A campaign filed paperwork Monday with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance to create a committee, called "Fair and Secure Massachusetts," seeking to repeal the law enacted over Baker's veto last week. State Representative Christine Barber (D-Somerville) was among those who cited economic reasons for giving drivers licenses to illegals. Massachusetts to allow illegal immigrants to apply for drivers Baker's Driver's License Bill Veto. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. "It is unnecessary because we are just focused on the ability of someone to drive.". Sarah Betancourt is a bilingual reporter for GBH News, and longtime Boston muckraker. Driver's Licenses, ID Cards Being Replaced After Printer Mishap, Mass. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about or keeping documents related to immigration status. With the passing of the law, Massachusetts joins 16 other states and Washington D.C., that have similar laws. At least 16 states, including Connecticut and Vermont, allow residents to get a drivers license or permit regardless of immigration status, supporters say. Undocumented workers in some states must choose between driving illegally and risking exposure to the virus by sharing rides. Baker on Monday said his administration would "start the process of implementing it pretty much immediately.". 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. Nineteen states have laws in place that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers license, including Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Washington. All rights reserved, 53K Mass. 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. Illegal immigrants in Massachusetts will be able to obtain driver's licenses after state lawmakers voted Thursday to override a veto from Republican Gov. 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. For instance, in Colombia, theres a document showing the individuals blood type, and in Guinea, applicants need two documents including an unexpired passport, photo ID and/or birth certificate. Charlie Baker delivers his state of the state address Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, in the House Chamber at the Statehouse, in Boston. 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. The bill still must be approved by the Massachusetts Senate, also controlled by Democrats, before heading to Baker. 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. 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. More on Driver's Licenses. Forty-seven percent said they opposed the drivers license bill, and 46 percent supported it, with 7 percent unsure. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Granting drivers licenses to illegal immigration is the wrong approach, he said. Brendan Crighton and Adam Gomez will attend, along with advocates. 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. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. All rights reserved. Many argue that we should let the federal government do its job when it comes to immigration reform. 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. Migrants have faced a warm welcome but major challenges, like housing and education. The formal legislative session ends July 31. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The Massachusetts State House in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. 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. The bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license in Massachusetts will now become law. Massachusetts Gov. Congestion pricing and other traffic mitigation options are back on the table. 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. 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. City hopes state legislature boosts shelter aid. Dongpeng Debao Commercial Center. 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. 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. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. With override, House moves Massachusetts closer to drivers licenses for unauthorized immigrants, Baker vetoes immigrant license access bill. Its treasurer will be Kevin Dube of North Andover, according to the form submitted to OCPF. The measure is about being safe on the road, according to Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. As Beacon Hill moves toward undocumented drivers' licenses, big-city mayors voice support, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures. 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. Tel: +86 20 81608506, Home That's a problem," Baker said Thursday morning. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. Charlie Bakers veto. This legislation is distracting us not just from the needs of U.S. citizens but even people here who are here illegally. The licenses would not become available until July 1, 2023. Full Worm Moon: Will Conditions In MA Favor A Moonbow? 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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. This isnt a slam dunk in the world of law enforcement by any reasonable measure.. Please join us as we make a difference in the lives of newcomers. "I don't see this the same way the House and the Senate see it," Baker said Monday. 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. Activists demanding Massachusetts lawmakers override Gov. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Lenny Mirra-vs.-Kristin Kassner State Rep Race One of Several Massachusetts Elections Decided By One Vote, ) before the Joint Committee on Transportation. But the legislature gets the final word. 109. 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. The House voted 119-36 and the Senate voted 32-8 to override Baker's veto and make the measure law. Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl and lieutenant governor candidate Leah Cole Allen said after Thursday's vote they would back a ballot question asking voters to repeal the new law. Starting July 1, 2023, anyone in Massachusetts regardless of immigration status can apply for a standard driver's license. Are we demanding too much of our Registry of Motor Vehicle clerks? 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Democrat Sens. Are we asking them to become experts in foreign documentation and forgery detection? Whelan said. WebLutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a champion for all uprooted people. Sarah Betancourt is a bilingual reporter for GBH News, and longtime Boston muckraker. Support GBH. This is a concrete step the Commonwealth could take to improve the daily lives of immigrants.. APS ASSESSMENT: False. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File), The Massachusetts State House in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. Analysis: Mass. 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. 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. Mass illegal immigration is what you wanted Sign up for the newsletter to receive periodic updates on Cato research, events, and publications. Forty-seven percent said they opposed the drivers license bill, and 46 percent supported it, with 7 percent unsure. 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. Both Maloney and Dube supported Diehl at last month's Republican convention in Springfield. 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. A Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published in the spring showed residents were divided on the issue. 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. Thats bad policy. State Senator Adam Gomez (D-Springfield) painted it as a pro-business bill. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. Stay up to date with everything Boston. "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. Democrat Sens. Whelan said the new rules would put too heavy a burden on those issuing licenses. And this time they could actually pass. The bill is now backed by the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police and most Massachusetts sheriffs and district attorneys. 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. "That was never really on the table here in Massachusetts," he said. 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. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. 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. 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. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. 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. Thats a problem, Baker said. The bill still needs to go through a committee for review, but the deadline for that review has now been delayed until March. 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. 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. Eight other states are considering similar laws. But for How Long? This session, having amassed enough votes to steamroll a veto, they went for it. 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.. 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 The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. The new law will allow immigrants without legal status to apply for a standard state drivers license beginning July 1, 2023. We couldn't do it without you. 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. 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. Thank you for your support, but we can't have this in here.". 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. Gov. The calendar could shape the dynamics at play there. I know that the economic purpose of immigration is to depress wages, Kropper said. Some Massachusetts residents want drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. Some Massachusetts residents want drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. 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. "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. Applicants who cannot provide proof of lawful 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. 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. Mass. Sixteen other states already allow undocumented immigrants to acquire licenses. 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. The intention would be to put the question to voters on the November 2022 ballot. No. 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. McCraw said that Asian Americans were targeted in hopes of finding "look-a-likes" for undocumented immigrants of Asian descent. This bill is a free ticket to government benefits, Lynch said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. And join the real revolution. 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. 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. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. She's covered politics, immigration, incarceration, and health for The Guardian, DigBoston, The Boston Globe, and The Associated Press. 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. 109. State House News Service | At least 16 states, including Connecticut and Vermont, allow residents to get a drivers license or permit regardless of immigration status, supporters say. A Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published in the spring showed residents were divided on the issue. City hopes state legislature boosts shelter aid. 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. House Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, bill sponsors Reps. Christine Barber and Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and Sens. By 2019, 50,000 undocumented immigrants had taken written exams, vision tests, and road tests to get drivers licenses. The bill has won support from many of the states sheriffs and district attorneys and the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police. Charlie Baker, who has opposed similar legislation in the past. "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. 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. 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. We sat down with the chiefs and asked what their concerns were and worked with them. 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