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. WebLutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a champion for all uprooted people. If opponents of the new law pursue that action -- and are successful at gathering signatures -- the timing could line up almost perfectly to put the question before voters at the Nov. 8 election. Patricia Mae G. Santos, M.D., Kanan Shah, M.D., Francesca M. Gany, M.D., and Fumiko Chino, M.D. Massachusetts is on its way to joining 16 other states that grant drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants. The new law will allow undocumented immigrants to apply for a standard state drivers license beginning July 1, 2023. Wakeman said the campaign is still working to collect the initial 10 signatures required to launch a referendum campaign. 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. 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. We found it incredibly hard a year ago," she said. But for How Long? Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. House Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, bill sponsors Reps. Christine Barber and Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and Sens. 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 Baker voiced his concerns about the bill Thursday morning, SHNS reported. A political committee began the process to repeal a new law to allow undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers licenses, just four days after legislators voted to make Massachusetts the 17th state to do that. American Chestnut Trees To Make A Comeback? By 2019, 50,000 undocumented immigrants had taken written exams, vision tests, and road tests to get drivers licenses. Mass illegal immigration is what you wanted Sign up for the newsletter to receive periodic updates on Cato research, events, and publications. UL/ CUL Constant Volatge LED Power Supply, UL/ CUL Constant Current LED Power Supply, Room 8055, 5th floor. In your inbox every Thursday morning. 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. 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. BOSTON People living in the U.S. illegally would House Democrats in Massachusetts have passed a controversial measure that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. No. I know that the economic purpose of immigration is to depress wages, Kropper said. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. 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. Many argue that we should let the federal government do its job when it comes to immigration reform. 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. Maloneys son was killed in 2011 by a drunk driver who did not have legal authorization to live in the United States. Thats bad policy. And join the real revolution. 109. Charlie Baker. 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. Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr rose in opposition to the bill, calling it very, very problematic and citing concerns over voter registration. ". 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. Banking as an Undocumented Immigrant. Drivers licenses for these people will only serve to encourage more undocumented people to move to Massachusetts.. Eli Lilly Will Slash Insulin Costs, Cap Out-Of-Pocket Expenses, FL Man AKA Sedition Panda Charged In Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol Breach: DOJ, CDC Warns Of Extensively-Drug Resistant Stomach Bug, Brothers Kill Groom On Wedding Night: Authorities, Dog Abandoned With Handwritten Note 'A Good Boy,' Loves To Hug & Kiss. Illegal immigrants in Massachusetts will be able to obtain driver's licenses after state lawmakers voted Thursday to override a veto from Republican Gov. The bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license in Massachusetts will now become law. 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. "We still need to do something like that if we really want to get our arms around this.". Follow us so you don't miss a thing! State Representative Christine Barber (D-Somerville) was among those who cited economic reasons for giving drivers licenses to illegals. 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. The bill still must be approved by the Massachusetts Senate, also controlled by Democrats, before heading to Baker. All the fears and the arguments and the objections have fallen short, said Gonzalez. To apply for a license, someone without legal presence would need to provide the Registry of Motor Vehicles with a foreign passport or a consular identification document as well as at least one of five other documents: a driver's license from another state, a foreign driver's license, a birth certificate, a foreign national ID card, or a marriage certificate from any U.S. territory. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. 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. Gomez called concerns that the bill would unleash voter fraud a "red herring.". We have far more important problems to fix, Kropper said. The law, signed by Gov. Nineteen states have laws in place that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers license, including Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Washington. "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. 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. 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. And this time they could actually pass. Migrants have faced a warm welcome but major challenges, like housing and education. Thank you for your support, but we can't have this in here.". Senate Democrats are 109. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. Listen 5:50 Regional News Rep. Richard Neal supports driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts Alden Bourne , May 9, 2022 The Democratic-controlled Massachusetts House of Representatives has passed a bill that will allow undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. The Senate voted 32-8 Thursday. 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. The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. The hearing featured a wide array of supporters of the bills, including various Democrats in the Massachusetts legislature, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. The deadline to file would be July 9, or within 30 days of the Senate overriding Gov. Sixteen other states already have laws on the books allowing undocumented immigrants to acquire licenses, Crighton told his colleagues. |Service
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. "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. The intention would be to put the question to voters on the November 2022 ballot. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File), The Massachusetts State House in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. 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 and last updated 9:36 AM, Nov 09, 2022. The bill, H.4805, would allow those without legal status to apply for a driver's license if they can show proof of their identity and residency in Massachusetts. Legislators, who often wrap up work at the last minute or blow past deadlines altogether, faced pressure to finalize a bill soon with the Sept. 6 statewide primary less than three months away. More on Driver's Licenses. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The bill still needs to go through a committee for review, but the deadline for that review has now been delayed until March. WebLutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a champion for all uprooted people. Connecticut saw a reduction of hit-and run crashes, and a decline in the number of people found guilty of unlicensed driving, a 2019 investigation by the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting found. 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 Jun 24, 2021. 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. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. Dongpeng Debao Commercial Center. The licenses would not become available until July 1, 2023. 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. 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. We always have," Baker told the crowd at a New England Council event. Maloney said she believes its absolutely possible to collect the signatures necessary to get on the ballot in November. Now dip your toe in the water for two bucks , Five Social Policy Changes Maura Healey's Administration May, Unsure About Massachusetts Ballot Questions? State laws that allow undocumented immigrants should be able to obtain driver 's license in Massachusetts be... 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