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. Illegal immigrants in Massachusetts will be able to obtain driver's licenses after state lawmakers voted Thursday to override a veto from Republican Gov. Report on 2014 legislation shows most domestic workers don't get basic rights and employers aren't trying to comply. The bill would not register undocumented immigrants to vote. Once the law is fully implemented, new drivers are likely to spend $62 million on car insurance policies. BOSTON (CBS) - The Senate passed a bill that would give immigrants without legal status a pathway to obtain a Massachusetts driver's license. By Christian M. Wade Statehouse Reporter. 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. Jun 24, 2021. A Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published in the spring showed residents were divided on the issue. Applicants who cannot provide proof of lawful Some Massachusetts residents want drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. 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. After implementing a similar law, Connecticut saw a reduction of hit-and run crashes, and a decline in the number of people found guilty of unlicensed driving, an investigation by the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting found. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Additional drivers licenses equal more revenue through application fees, Gomez said. The deadline to file would be July 9, or within 30 days of the Senate overriding Gov. 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, The House voted 119-36 and the Senate voted 32-8 to override Baker's veto and make the measure law. 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. WebLutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a champion for all uprooted people. 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. 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. Phil Murphy in December 2019 after a long debate, allows for a standard drivers license to be issued to immigrants regardless of legal status. House Democrats in Massachusetts have passed a controversial measure that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. "And everyone deserves to feel safe and get to work, pick up children and be a part of their communities without fear. I know that the economic purpose of immigration is to depress wages, Kropper said. 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. She was a reporter for CommonWealth Magazine, and senior immigration reporter for Law360. 109. The poll was conducted from April 24 to April 28 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points. The final vote in the Senate was 328 to approve the bill over Baker's objection. Still, he gave credit to one Democrat: Transportation Committee Co-chair Rep. William Straus, who Baker said ensured the administration would have additional time to prepare for the new normal. 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 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 MIRA Coalition firmly opposes any and all efforts to repeal the Work and Family Mobility Act, said Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, in a call with GBH. The bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license in Massachusetts will now become law. DUTIES. 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. "I am one of those who comes to the chamber concerned about some of the provisions before us, concerned because a driver's license is one of the most, if not the most, recognizable, important pieces of identification in our society, bar none," Tarr, the Republican leader, said at the start of the session. "This bill would provide broad benefits to our municipalities. 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. The ability to apply for a drivers license is the number one issue for immigrant families, Barber added. At least one piece of documentation must have a photograph. 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. Starting July 1, 2023, anyone in Massachusetts regardless of immigration status can apply for a standard driver's license. 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. Speakers pepped up the crowd and recounted the license policy's long road toward becoming law, with one legislator recalling that it was a young Rep. Marty Walsh who first filed the bill many years ago. 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.. Thats a problem, Baker said. "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.". 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. Sign up for the GBH News Politics email newsletter, featuring complete local politics coverage along with insights from our team of political reporters. 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. 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. Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com. 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. Room 8055, 5th floor. House lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill, which passed by a 120-36 vote. Drivers licenses for these people will only serve to encourage more undocumented people to move to Massachusetts.. The bill may look simple, but the issue, as we know, is complicated, said Democratic state Rep. William Straus, co-chair of the Legislatures Joint Committee on Transportation. 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. "That was never really on the table here in Massachusetts," he said. These newly-licensed drivers will generate about $6 million in initial fee revenue over the first three years. Huanhua Road 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. Charlie Baker, who has opposed similar legislation in the past. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. State House News Service | 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. Hongmei Neon Equipment Factory 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. Opponents of undocumented drivers license bill point to potential for illegal voting. The Minnesota Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that would allow illegal immigrants the ability to obtain a U.S. driver's license without requiring proof they are in the country lawfully. "It's never easy to collect signatures. BOSTON (AP) The Massachusetts House approved a bill Wednesday that would let immigrants in the country illegally obtain state drivers licenses. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. Zip code: 510375 Granting drivers licenses to illegal immigration is the wrong approach, he said. 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 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. This legislation is distracting us not just from the needs of U.S. citizens but even people here who are here 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. 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. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. 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. 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 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. Unfortunately, Massachusetts is a magnet for undocumented people. APS ASSESSMENT: False. 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. Full transcript of Bidens State of the Union address, Mass. Brendan Crighton and Adam Gomez will attend, along with advocates. Not to mention, drivers with licenses are better equipped to obtain car insurance. Our lives are safer when every single driver has to pass a road test, a vision test, and obtain insurance.. The Massachusetts House approved a bill Wednesday that would let immigrants in the country illegally obtain state drivers licenses. In your inbox every Thursday morning. Charlie Baker has expressed opposition to similar efforts in the past. Huanhua Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou,Guangdong (P.R.China). A Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published in the spring showed residents were divided on the issue. Allowing undocumented immigrants in Connecticut to obtain driver's licenses may have reduced hit-and-run crashes in the state. 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. 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. Critics contend it could have negative impacts on public safety and could threaten the electoral process. 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. The measure is about being safe on the road, according to Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. In an event that 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. City hopes state legislature boosts shelter aid. 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. 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 Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. The state House and Senate both overwhelmingly approved the bill earlier this year, but Baker vetoed it on May 27. 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. Proponents of the bill say it expands access to services for immigrants and helps police if every driver has passed a road test and has an insured and licensed vehicle. Despite the overwhelming support from the Legislature, Massachusetts residents are split on allowing undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses, a recent poll showed. 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. At My Undocumented Life we provide up-to-date information and resources for undocumented immigrants and allies. 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. Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls Attorney General Maura Healey and state Sen. Sonia Chang-Daz both voiced their support of the veto override on Twitter. Charlie Baker's veto of an immigrant driver's license access bill marched around the State House in Boston on Thursday, June 2, 2022. 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. 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. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Surely, we shouldnt have to rely on Charlie Baker, a Republican, and my former junior high classmate, to veto a measure that harms those at the bottom of the economic ladder.. 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.". The Senate voted 32-8 Thursday. 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. February 16, 2022 20 BOSTON (AP) The Massachusetts House approved a bill Wednesday that would let immigrants in the country illegally obtain state The new law will allow immigrants without legal status to apply for a standard state drivers license beginning July 1, 2023. Both Maloney and Dube supported Diehl at last month's Republican convention in Springfield. I do not think that we should be rewarding people for being in the country illegally, Maloney said in a phone interview. Rep. Christine Barber, a Somerville Democrat who refiled the bill, said people need access to drivers licenses more during the pandemic as they work essential jobs Please join us as we make a difference in the lives of newcomers. The bill creates two categories of drivers licenses and non-driver identification cards: federally-compliant REAL ID, which is only available for documented residents, and the Standard Basic drivers license and ID, which will be available to all New Jersey residents regardless of immigration status. Stay up to date with everything Boston. This session, having amassed enough votes to steamroll a veto, they went for it. Tel: +86 20 81608506, Home Are we asking them to become experts in foreign documentation and forgery detection? Whelan said. In a 120 to 36 vote, the Massachusetts voters narrowly approved a law that allows those in the U.S. illegally to obtain a drivers license. 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. Senate Democrats are also hoping for a two-thirds majority vote. 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. Charlie Baker on the legislation. The intention would be to put the question to voters on the November 2022 ballot. 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