The margin was still more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto from the governor. Sarah Betancourt is a bilingual reporter for GBH News, and longtime Boston muckraker. Other states like California, New York and Utah already do the same. 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. Illegal immigrants in Massachusetts will be able to obtain driver's licenses after state lawmakers voted Thursday to override a veto from Republican Gov. It is unnecessary because we are just focused on the ability of someone to drive.. REP. GOODEN INTRODUCES BILL TO EXPAND USE OF BIOMETRICS TO IDENTIFY MIGRANTS COMING ACROSS SOUTHERN BORDER, Massachusetts Gov. 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. Forty-seven percent said they opposed the drivers license bill, and 46 percent supported it, with 7 percent unsure. 109. Charlie Bakers veto. We believe that could lead to stigma, open up opportunities to discriminate, Crighton said. Huanhua Road
To put the question of whether the law should be repealed on the November ballot, petitioners will need to collect at least 40,120 signatures from registered voters, no more than 10,030 of which can come from a single county, in less than three months. The hearing featured a wide array of supporters of the bills, including various Democrats in the Massachusetts legislature, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. 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. Nineteen states have laws in place that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers license, including Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Washington. 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. ", "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. Sixteen other states already have laws on the books allowing undocumented immigrants to acquire licenses, Crighton told his colleagues. 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. "And everyone deserves to feel safe and get to work, pick up children and be a part of their communities without fear. 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. Please join us as we make a difference in the lives of newcomers. 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. 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. A topless marijuana dispensary may be coming to Western Mass. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. Huanhua Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou,Guangdong (P.R.China). "We can't have this in here. Those who testified largely stuck to the same talking points: that immigrants need drivers licenses to get to work and doctors appointments, that they play a key role in the states workforce, that it would prevent some hit-and-run accidents, that it would result in more Bay State residents with car insurance, and that it would give the state some additional revenue because of licensing and registration fees. Eight other states are considering similar laws. Even Baker, who argued that allowing immigrants without legal status to apply for standard driver's licenses could spiral into ineligible residents registering to vote, accepted that he was fighting a losing battle. Brendan Crighton and Adam Gomez will attend, along with advocates. This law provides driver's licenses to applicants who submit a valid foreign passport or consular identification and proof of residency, regardless of legal Massachusetts voters narrowly approved a law that allows those in the U.S. illegally to obtain a drivers license. He said his amendments were rejected in a rush to move this bill forward. He said one of those addressed the design of the licenses which arent going to look any different from current licenses, and could cause problems with voter registration. This is a well-vetted piece of legislation. House Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, bill sponsors Reps. Christine Barber and Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and Sens. She was a reporter for CommonWealth Magazine, and senior immigration reporter for Law360. 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 hearing featured a wide array of supporters of the bills, including various Democrats in the Massachusetts legislature, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, Brazilian Worker Center, Rian Immigrant Center (formerly the Irish International Immigrant Center), the Boston Teachers Union, Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, and both illegal immigrants and legal immigrants (who sometimes testified in foreign languages). During the debate over the bill Thursday, SHNS reported, the five Democrats and three Republicans argued for having drivers licenses issued to undocumented immigrants reflect their undocumented status in some form. Migrants have faced a warm welcome but major challenges, like housing and education. 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. Undocumented workers in some states must choose between driving illegally and risking exposure to the virus by sharing rides. 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. The bill is now backed by the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police and most Massachusetts sheriffs and district attorneys. Jun 24, 2021. A drivers license is essential for economic mobility. MASSACHUSETTS The Massachusetts House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday that would allow undocumented immigrants to get state driver's licenses. House and Senate leaders will need to agree on final language to send to Baker's desk, which they could try to do informally senators previously said the changes they made before bringing the proposal to the floor were technical in nature or by appointing a conference committee. 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. Are we asking them to become experts in foreign documentation and forgery detection? Whelan said. 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. He also said the bill restricts the registrys ability to share citizenship information with those entities responsible for ensuring only citizens register for and vote in our election.. Applicants who cannot provide proof of lawful The poll was conducted from April 24 to April 28 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points. 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. No. 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. "Indeed, many of our policy chiefs support the bill as a public safety tool and agree that it will enable law enforcement to better identify individuals at traffic stops or scenes of an accident.". 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. 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.. 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.. Thats a problem, Baker said. 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. Lawmakers have long considered drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. And that's basically and fundamentally what this bill is. The bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license in Massachusetts will now become law. Charlie Baker's formal opposition. In an event that Here's what we know. They made their voices heard on Wednesday afternoon. But youve found it. We have far more important problems to fix, Kropper said. Charlie Baker. Secretary of State Bill Galvin turns down 20% pay raise. In November, voters in Massachusetts will decide on rejecting a state law that allows illegal immigrants to obtain a drivers license. If passed into law, Massachusetts would join 16 other states and the District of Columbia which already have similar laws. 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. "It's never easy to collect signatures. "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. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. Whelan said the new rules would put too heavy a burden on those issuing licenses. Legislative leaders who steered the long-debated bill through the House and Senate said they have some worries about the prospect of a statewide campaign on the topic. Legal Statement. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. And I'm disappointed that our governor chose to veto it, and ignore the public safety argument, and get hung up on questions that we think we answered properly to him.". 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. Legislatures considering extending driver’s licenses to unauthorized immigrants debate such potential And join the real revolution. It's ironing out the intraparty disagreements that often proves tougher, and more time-consuming. We couldn't do it without you. Gov. This legislation is distracting us not just from the needs of U.S. citizens but even people here who are here illegally. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. These newly-licensed drivers will generate about $6 million in initial fee revenue over the first three years. Driver's Licenses Bill Is Law. "That's democracy.". would become the third state to make it lawful for adults to grow, ingest and give away certain psychedelic plants and fungi. Opponents of undocumented drivers license bill point to potential for illegal voting. She's covered politics, immigration, incarceration, and health for The Guardian, DigBoston, The Boston Globe, and The Associated Press. And this time they could actually pass. Ensure that financial reports are prepared according to LIRS, PRM and ORR requirements. Lenny Mirra-vs.-Kristin Kassner State Rep Race One of Several Massachusetts Elections Decided By One Vote, ) before the Joint Committee on Transportation. And it puts tremendous pressure on cities and towns to do the cleanup on the back end.". We all benefit from increased public safety," state Senate President Karen Spilka said after Baker's veto in May. "Allowing parents to drive their kids to school, take them to doctor's appointments or be in charge of carpooling to take their kids to soccer, all without the concern they may be separated if they are pulled over, will allow children of undocumented immigrants to breath and have a sigh of relief," said Sen. Adam Gomez, a Springfield Democrat and one of the bill's main sponsors. 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.". 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.. 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. At least one piece of documentation must have a photograph. A Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published in the spring showed residents were divided on the issue. 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. 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. 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. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! But the legislature gets the final word. 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. By 2019, 50,000 undocumented immigrants had taken written exams, vision tests, and road tests to get drivers licenses. Our lives are safer when every single driver has to pass a road test, a vision test, and obtain insurance.. Further, newly-licensed drivers are likely to generate an additional $5 million per year in tax revenue once the law is fully rolled out. Mass illegal immigration is what you wanted Sign up for the newsletter to receive periodic updates on Cato research, events, and publications. Charlie Baker on the legislation. 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. We found it incredibly hard a year ago," she said. The new law will allow undocumented immigrants to apply for a standard state drivers license beginning July 1, 2023. BOSTON (CBS) - The Senate passed a bill that would give immigrants without legal status a pathway to obtain a Massachusetts driver's license. Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File), The Massachusetts State House in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. 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. While some in law enforcement have backed the bill, many have declined to take a position, according to Republican state Rep. Timothy Whelan, of Brewster. The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. It can tear families apart, and that is a heavy, heavy burden to carry that fear through the daily activities of one's life.". We fully support submitting this question to the people to give them a direct say in their future," Diehl said Thursday without making clear. 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. 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. 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. The measure is about being safe on the road, according to Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. Both Democratic candidates, Maura Healey and Sonia Chang-Daz, have voiced their support for the veto override. Rep. Paul Frost, a Republican from Auburn, said it would encourage immigrants to come to Massachusetts without trying to obtain legal status. 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. 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. 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. All rights reserved, 53K Mass. House lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill, which passed by a 120-36 vote. 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