"I consistently voted against this bill and I remain opposed to its passage into law.". Dongpeng Debao Commercial Center. "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. Senators voted 32-8 in favor of the controversial or redistributed. |Contact Us. 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. Huanhua Road At least 16 states, including Connecticut and Vermont, allow residents to get a drivers license or permit regardless of immigration status, supporters say. The @ma_senate looks forward to overriding this misguided decision.". Attorney General Maura Healey implored Bay State employers to think about abortion laws, too, saying that heightened restrictions being put in place in other states could cost billions of dollars in productivity "because it actually affects whether women go to school, stay in school, join the workforce, stay in the workforce, contribute to our economy. Mass. It's ironing out the intraparty disagreements that often proves tougher, and more time-consuming. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. "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.". We believe that could lead to stigma, open up opportunities to discriminate, Crighton said. I do not think that we should be rewarding people for being in the country illegally, Maloney said in a phone interview. Gov. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. It will also make it possible for immigrants and refugees to go about their lives with more peace of mind, Sweet said. Kathy Lynch, a Republican state committee member from Westford, said she worries that the bill could result in fraud. Critics contend it could have negative impacts on public safety and could threaten the electoral process. would become the third state to make it lawful for adults to grow, ingest and give away certain psychedelic plants and fungi. In an event that Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. House lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill, which passed by a 120-36 vote. The Driving Families Forward coalition, which includes a range of civil rights, immigration reform and organized labor groups, praised the Senate's vote and called for Baker to sign the legislation, arguing it "provides all the safeguards necessary to answer any doubts he may has (sic) raised previously. WebMIRA is proud to be part of the Driving Families Forward Coalition, which is advocating for the Work and Family Mobility Act). And this time they could actually pass. Full transcript of Bidens State of the Union address, Mass. 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. 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. Under the legislation, the Registry of Motor Vehicles would be required to come up with regulations about what specific kinds of documentation are acceptable. A bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers' licenses has passed the Massachusetts Senate. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. View All Newsletters. Senate overrides Baker veto: Undocumented immigrants will be able to get driver's licenses, With override, House moves Massachusetts closer to drivers licenses for unauthorized immigrants, Baker vetoes immigrant license access bill. "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 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. Congestion pricing and other traffic mitigation options are back on the table. 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. Licensing allows businesses to attract workers they cannot currently access.. This session, having amassed enough votes to steamroll a veto, they went for it. 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. Charlie Phil Murphy in December 2019 after a long debate, allows for a standard drivers license to be issued to immigrants regardless of legal status. The measure is about being safe on the road, according to Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. 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. So many people who have testified today other than the last two, their only concern was for the people who have come into our country without permission not for American citizens, Dugan said. "Without a license, a routine traffic stop can have a lasting and traumatic set of repercussions: arrest, ICE detention, deportation. Republican Gov. 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.". Charlie Baker. About 7% are undecided. Secretary of State William Galvin has publicly refuted that claim. But youve found it. Here's what we know. ", 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.". By making all immigrants eligible for a driver's license, we make it possible for all drivers to drive in a safe, secure manner, she said. Action would put mail-in voting and more early voting days on the table for this fall's elections, but for a majority of the legislators responsible for the bill, it won't make all that much of a difference. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 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. The vote was 32 to 8, with five Democrats voting with the chambers Republicans against the bill, State House News Service (SHNS) reported. By 2019, 50,000 undocumented immigrants had taken written exams, vision tests, and road tests to get drivers licenses. Legal Statement. The margin was still more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto from the governor. 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. City hopes state legislature boosts shelter aid. Banking as an Undocumented Immigrant. 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. 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. But youve found it. These newly-licensed drivers will generate about $6 million in initial fee revenue over the first three years. The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. No. 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. Bill sponsor Sen. Brendan Crighton, a Lynn Democrat, argued against this compromise, according to SHNS, saying it would prevent undocumented immigrants from testing for a license, which would go against the point of the bill. 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. Opponents of undocumented drivers license bill point to potential for illegal voting. 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. Migrants have faced a warm welcome but major challenges, like housing and education. An aide to Baker said he supports existing state laws that allow those in the country legally to obtain drivers licenses. The original version of the bill was introduced almost 20 years ago, and multiple iterations have cropped up and failed, including one from then-state Rep. Marty Walsh in 2007, who is now the U.S. Secretary of Labor. But the legislature gets the final word. 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 Fanghua Guangyuan Electronics Co., Ltd. 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. "But I think we've got enough interest to do it. 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. Legislatures considering extending driver’s licenses to unauthorized immigrants debate such potential We found it incredibly hard a year ago," she said. 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. Thats a problem, Baker said. 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. This article was updated to include additional comments. 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.. House Republicans unsuccessfully pushed a similar amendment during their debate on the bill, which Baker described as a "perfectly reasonable way to deal with this. 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. This isnt a slam dunk in the world of law enforcement by any reasonable measure.. Charlie Baker's formal opposition. She's covered politics, immigration, incarceration, and health for The Guardian, DigBoston, The Boston Globe, and The Associated Press. 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 A Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll of Massachusetts residents conducted in April found a nearly even split of support and opposition for the licensing idea, an uneasy balance that could get tilted one way or the other once prospective campaigns begin flooding the public sphere. Were 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. A Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published in the spring showed residents were divided on the issue. "We believe that could lead to stigma, open up opportunities to discriminate," Crighton said. New to NewBostonPost? Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. Legislature Overrides Gov. 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. "I have very grave concerns about the impacts this bill will have on public safety and the integrity of our elections," Rep. Steve Xiarhos, a Republican, said Wednesday on social media. This story was updated to include more details from the legislative debate, as well as reaction to the vote and background on the issue. 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. On Thursday, Crighton said, On the issue of voting, weve debunked it again and again, and again.. A No vote on the question would repeal the law (H.4805) that is scheduled to make illegal immigrants eligible to obtain drivers licenses starting on July 1, 2023. Charlie Baker and authorizing drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. Illegal immigrants in Massachusetts will be able to obtain driver's licenses after state lawmakers voted Thursday to override a veto from Republican Gov. BOSTON People living in the U.S. illegally would Starting July 1, 2023, anyone in Massachusetts regardless of immigration status can apply for a standard driver's license. There about 250,000 undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts, according to a 2016 report from the American Immigration Council. 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. 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. And it puts tremendous pressure on cities and towns to do the cleanup on the back end.". Previous research by The Pew Charitable Trusts examined the decisions that 10 states and the District of Columbia made when designing and implementing their laws to issue driver’s licenses to unauthorized immigrants. 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. At least one document must contain a photograph. DUTIES. 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. "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. 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. 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. Conservative media is hard to find in Massachusetts. (Thomas Kurmeier via Getty Images), "We are a nation of immigrants. 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. With respect to our Congressional delegation, whos fighting the good fight, do we really think that Congress is going to find consensus on meaningful immigration reform anytime soon?. She was a reporter for CommonWealth Magazine, and senior immigration reporter for Law360. Granting immigration status is the job of the federal government. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, With override, House moves Massachusetts closer to drivers licenses for unauthorized immigrants, Baker vetoes immigrant license access bill. 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. Forty-seven percent said they opposed the drivers license bill, and 46 percent supported it, with 7 percent unsure. 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