Nineteen states have laws in place that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers license, including Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Washington. Support GBH. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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.". The ability to apply for a drivers license is the number one issue for immigrant families, Barber added. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. The bill would not register undocumented immigrants to vote. Opponents of undocumented drivers license bill point to potential for illegal voting. 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. How legitimate are those concerns? APS ASSESSMENT: False. Dongpeng Debao Commercial Center. Lawmakers have long considered drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about or keeping documents related to immigration status. Immigrants are being squeezed under kitchen tables, into church basements and into shelters, they say. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. I dont support drivers licenses for people who are undocumented, Baker said during a 2014 GBH debate. It is unnecessary because we are just focused on the ability of someone to drive.. The bill still requires approval by the Massachusetts Senate, also controlled by Democrats, before heading to Baker. Granting drivers licenses to illegal immigration is the wrong approach, he said. Stay up to date with everything Boston. She said the benefits of allowing individuals to apply for a drivers license regardless of immigration status will become quickly apparent. It will also require all drivers to take a driving test and enroll in auto insurance, which will benefit the state financially. 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. This is a well-vetted piece of 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The law specifically mandates that the state Registrar of Motor Vehicles develop procedures and regulations to ensure that license She was a reporter for CommonWealth Magazine, and senior immigration reporter for Law360. It can tear families apart, and that is a heavy, heavy burden to carry that fear through the daily activities of one's life.". Sign up for the GBH News Politics email newsletter, featuring complete local politics coverage along with insights from our team of political reporters. This is a concrete step the Commonwealth could take to improve the daily lives of immigrants.. Sarah Betancourt is a bilingual reporter for GBH News, and longtime Boston muckraker. We know in other states that have passed this bill, passed a form of driver's licenses for immigrants, that hit-and-run accidents go down by 10 percent, House co-sponsor Tricia Farley-Bouvier told GBH News on Thursday morning. 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. All the fears and the arguments and the objections have fallen short, said Gonzalez. 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. We all benefit from increased public safety," state Senate President Karen Spilka said after Baker's veto in May. 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. Activists demanding Massachusetts lawmakers override Gov. If passed into law, immigrants would qualify for a Massachusetts standard driver's license if they presented valid proof of identity, date of birth and state residency. ". 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. Migrants have faced a warm welcome but major challenges, like housing and education. WebLutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a champion for all uprooted people. DUTIES. The House voted 119-36 and the Senate voted 32-8 to override Baker's veto and make the measure law. House Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, bill sponsors Reps. Christine Barber and Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and Sens. Rep. Paul Frost, a Republican from Auburn, said it would encourage immigrants to come to Massachusetts without trying to obtain legal status. Both Democratic candidates, Maura Healey and Sonia Chang-Daz, have voiced their support for the veto override. "It sends the wrong message," Frost said. But youve found it. 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. 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. 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. 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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. "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. The hearing featured a wide array of supporters of the bills, including various Democrats in the Massachusetts legislature, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. 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. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. 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, "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. Eight other states are considering similar laws. 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. Bill sponsor Sen. Brendan Crighton, a Lynn Democrat, contended that bifurcating licenses awarded to immigrants without legal status and all other licenses could have a "chilling effect" on the bill's goal to get more drivers road tested. "It's never easy to collect signatures. 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 seeking a license must present at least two documents. 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. Sen. Sonia Chang-Daz, a Boston Democrat, added that in many of them, the rate of uninsured drivers and hit-and-run crashes dropped after implementation of the policy. and last updated 9:36 AM, Nov 09, 2022. House lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill, which passed by a 120-36 vote. House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka, as they have for months at this point, said their respective branches continue to deliberate in private about still-in-development tax packages without offering many details beyond a broad promise that the bills would aim to help vulnerable populations. We fully support submitting this question to the people to give them a direct say in their future," Diehl said Thursday without making clear. The Senate voted 32-8 Thursday. 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. Secretary of State William Galvin has publicly refuted that claim. Their spending plans for the fiscal year that starts July 1 do not broach the idea of tax relief, though the final fiscal 2023 budget deliberations could revise the state's tax revenue forecast. 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. Join us. 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. Banking as an Undocumented Immigrant. (Thomas Kurmeier via Getty Images), "We are a nation of immigrants. 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. would become the third state to make it lawful for adults to grow, ingest and give away certain psychedelic plants and fungi. Gomez called concerns that the bill would unleash voter fraud a "red herring.". The bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license in Massachusetts will now become law. This law provides driver's licenses to applicants who submit a valid foreign passport or consular identification and proof of residency, regardless of legal The Senate signed off on the deal and a House vote could come as early as next week. Democrat Sens. 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. This story was updated to include more details from the legislative debate, as well as reaction to the vote and background on the issue. 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. 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