It would most likely require a two-thirds majority in each chamber of the Massachusetts Legislature for this bill to pass. 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. The ability to apply for a drivers license is the number one issue for immigrant families, Barber added. 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. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. Market data provided by Factset. The votes were there to pass the bill and Democrats in both branches flexed their political muscles in a 24-hour span to cement the licensing bill as law by clearing the two thirds hurdle needed for a veto override. 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. We have far more important problems to fix, Kropper said. The margin was still more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto from the governor. 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. A Suffolk University-Boston Globe poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published Monday found that 46.6% of residents oppose the measure, while 46.1% support it. Report on 2014 legislation shows most domestic workers don't get basic rights and employers aren't trying to comply. 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. 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). Secretary of State Bill Galvin turns down 20% pay raise. They'd have until Aug. 24 to submit signatures to local election officials for certification and then Sept. 7 to submit them to Secretary of State William Galvin's office. "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. In an event that 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. ", The gubernatorial candidate told business leaders she is among those concerned about the statewide housing shortage and the high costs of living, two days before the man she hopes to succeed in the corner office delivered a similar message dubbing the lack of available and affordable housing an "existential threat.". "Sorry, we can't have this," Brownsberger told the crowd. The House voted 120-36 in favor of the measure. 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. 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. Critics of the measure have argued that drivers licenses are a privilege that should not be offered to those not in the country legally. At least one document must contain a photograph. Idahos bill "I consistently voted against this bill and I remain opposed to its passage into law.". Illegal immigrants in Massachusetts will be able to obtain driver's licenses after state lawmakers voted Thursday to override a veto from Republican Gov. 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. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. Fanghua Guangyuan Electronics Co., Ltd. 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. "I'm not throwing stones, (but) I filed legislation three years ago, before the pandemic, to significantly shift investments in primary care, addiction services, behavioral health and gerontology because we underfund those things. On Thursday, Crighton said, On the issue of voting, weve debunked it again and again, and again.. Notably, the news service reported, the bill would only allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a standard Massachusetts license, not a Real ID license, which will be required to board domestic flights and enter certain federal buildings about a year from now. Thats because the states Republican governor, Charlie Baker, opposes giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. We found it incredibly hard a year ago," she said. 109. 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. DUTIES. MA Mobile Sports Betting Start Time Set Ahead Of March Madness, Free MA Community College Outlined In Gov's Budget. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Massachusetts Gov. The law, signed by Gov. Republican Gov. 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. They made their voices heard on Wednesday afternoon. 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 Forty-seven percent said they opposed the drivers license bill, and 46 percent supported it, with 7 percent unsure. All rights reserved, 53K Mass. Mass illegal immigration is what you wanted Sign up for the newsletter to receive periodic updates on Cato research, events, and publications. The bill still must be approved by the Massachusetts Senate, also controlled by Democrats, before heading to Baker. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The law specifically mandates that the state Registrar of Motor Vehicles develop procedures and regulations to ensure that 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. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. 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 bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license in Massachusetts will now become law. 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. Will this be the year the bill passes? 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. Kathy Lynch, a Republican state committee member from Westford, said she worries that the bill could result in fraud. Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr rose in opposition to the bill, calling it very, very problematic and citing concerns over voter registration. Lawmakers have long considered drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. McCraw said that Asian Americans were targeted in hopes of finding "look-a-likes" for undocumented immigrants of Asian descent. 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. "We can't have this in here. 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.. In your inbox every Thursday morning. Phil Murphy in December 2019 after a long debate, allows for a standard drivers license to be issued to immigrants regardless of legal status. Thats a problem, Baker said. "This is clearly a complete overstep on the part of people who don't understand what the voters, what people in Massachusetts want out of their government," Wendy Wakeman, a Republican strategist who is working with the nascent referendum campaign, told the News Service. Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. 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. 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 Granting drivers licenses to illegal immigration is the wrong approach, he said. Forty-seven percent said they opposed the drivers license bill, and 46 percent supported it, with 7 percent unsure. And this time they could actually pass. Charlie Baker, who has opposed similar legislation in the past. "I don't see this the same way the House and the Senate see it," Baker said Monday. Charlie Baker's formal opposition. 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 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. February 16, 2022 20 BOSTON (AP) The Massachusetts House approved a bill Wednesday that would let immigrants in the country illegally obtain state 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. Opponents of undocumented drivers license bill point to potential for illegal voting. One amendment, offered by Fattman, would have required the RMV to transmit licensing information to any city or town clerk seeking to verify the identity of someone using a license to register to vote. New to NewBostonPost? Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. But the legislature gets the final word. House lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill, which passed by a 120-36 vote. Join us. 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. Stay up to date with everything Boston. Other states like California, New York and Utah already do the same. Starting July 1, 2023, anyone in Massachusetts regardless of immigration status can apply for a standard driver's license. And it puts tremendous pressure on cities and towns to do the cleanup on the back end.". Senate Democrats are also hoping for a two-thirds majority vote. The Democratic-controlled Massachusetts House of Representatives has passed a bill that will allow undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses. |News At My Undocumented Life we provide up-to-date information and resources for undocumented immigrants and allies. Driver's Licenses, ID Cards Being Replaced After Printer Mishap, Mass. 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. "Certainly, if it's part of our ballot initiative process, that is a concern. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. Mass. 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. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. "It's never easy to collect signatures. 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. Over the course of Thursday's debate, senators beat back attempts by Republicans and a handful of Democrats to distinguish the licenses that could be awarded to undocumented immigrants, either by offering them entirely separate "driver privilege cards" or by requiring a standard Massachusetts license issued to an immigrant without legal status to be printed in a different color or declare that it is not eligible as a form of identification. The new law will allow immigrants without legal status to apply for a standard state drivers license beginning July 1, 2023. Both Democratic candidates, Maura Healey and Sonia Chang-Daz, have voiced their support for the veto override. Tel: +86 20 81608506, Home 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. |Products 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. "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.". Rep. Paul Frost, a Republican from Auburn, said it would encourage immigrants to come to Massachusetts without trying to obtain legal status. and last updated 9:36 AM, Nov 09, 2022. Hongmei Neon Equipment Factory The deadline to file would be July 9, or within 30 days of the Senate overriding Gov. Gomez called concerns that the bill would unleash voter fraud a "red herring.". RMV To Send More Than 50,000 New Licenses After Printing Error, 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. Mass. MASSACHUSETTS The Massachusetts House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday that would allow undocumented immigrants to get state driver's licenses. Charlie Bakers veto. "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. They made their voices heard on Wednesday afternoon. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures. She said she wants to leave the measure up to the voters, citing the Globe-Suffolk University poll. City hopes state legislature boosts shelter aid. Our lives are safer when every single driver has to pass a road test, a vision test, and obtain insurance.. Despite the overwhelming support from the Legislature, Massachusetts residents are split on allowing undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses, a recent poll showed. 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