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 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. Critics of the measure have argued that drivers licenses are a privilege that should not be offered to those not in the country legally. Will this be the year the bill passes? 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. The override was not the only display of political strength Democrats made this week. February 16, 2022 20 BOSTON (AP) The Massachusetts House approved a bill Wednesday that would let immigrants in the country illegally obtain state drivers licenses. Idahos bill Immigration activists have long lobbied for the measure, saying it will help improve public safety including for those who already have drivers licenses by requiring that immigrants demonstrate they can properly operate a car and that they have obtained the needed insurance in the event of an accident. Huanhua Road 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 Lenny Mirra-vs.-Kristin Kassner State Rep Race One of Several Massachusetts Elections Decided By One Vote, ) before the Joint Committee on Transportation. The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. The Massachusetts House on Wednesday voted to override the governor's veto of the driver's license bill. Asked about whether methods used by consular offices to verify documents arent rigorous enough, Maloney said she wasnt sure and would have to look into that further.. Sarah Betancourt is a bilingual reporter for GBH News, and longtime Boston muckraker. , 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). Analysis: Mass. McCraw said that Asian Americans were targeted in hopes of finding "look-a-likes" for undocumented immigrants of Asian descent. Brendan Crighton and Adam Gomez will attend, along with advocates. Undocumented immigrants will still need to prove their identity, date of birth and residency in Massachusetts using a range of documents including either a valid, unexpired foreign passport or a valid, unexpired consular identification document. Without the support of Republicans who negotiated the final bill, lawmakers began advancing a measure to make mail-in voting and expanded early voting permanent options in Massachusetts. Gov. All rights reserved. Mass. 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. The 120-36 vote means the bill won the support of more than two-thirds of lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled House enough to override a potential veto by Baker. Charlie Baker, who has opposed similar legislation in the past. A Suffolk University-Boston Globe poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published Monday found 46.6% oppose the proposal, 46.1% support it and nearly 7% are undecided. 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. "We still need to do something like that if we really want to get our arms around this.". Here's what we know. Kathy Lynch, a Republican state committee member from Westford, said she worries that the bill could result in fraud. Both Democratic candidates, Maura Healey and Sonia Chang-Daz, have voiced their support for the veto override. 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. Advocates and lawmakers are holding a ceremonial bill signing to mark the new law on Monday afternoon which will be going into effect without the signature of Gov. Massachusetts is on its way to joining 16 other states that grant drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants. She was a reporter for CommonWealth Magazine, and senior immigration reporter for Law360. Contrary to prevailing opinions and fears, undocumented immigrants do have banking rights within the United States and can open bank accounts. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Justice Kimberly S. Budd said leaders need to advocate for people who cant afford their own counsel. |Profile 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. Congestion pricing and other traffic mitigation options are back on the table. 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. 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. "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. Both Maloney and Dube supported Diehl at last month's Republican convention in Springfield. 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?. 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. Opponents of undocumented drivers license bill point to potential for illegal voting. February 16, 2022 20 BOSTON (AP) The Massachusetts House approved a bill Wednesday that would let immigrants in the country illegally obtain state Allowing parents to drive their kids to school, take them to doctors 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 breathe and have a sigh of relief, Sen. Adam Gomez, a Springfield Democrat and one of the bills main sponsors, told the news service. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. DUTIES. She's covered politics, immigration, incarceration, and health for The Guardian, DigBoston, The Boston Globe, and The Associated Press. And this time they could actually pass. There about 250,000 undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts, according to a 2016 report from the American Immigration Council. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about or keeping documents related to immigration status. Please join us as we make a difference in the lives of newcomers. 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Charlie Baker delivers his state of the state address Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, in the House Chamber at the Statehouse, in Boston. She was a reporter for CommonWealth Magazine, and senior immigration reporter for Law360. This story was updated to include more details from the legislative debate, as well as reaction to the vote and background on the issue. Stay up to date with everything Boston. If passed into law, immigrants would qualify for a Massachusetts standard If passed into law, Massachusetts would join 16 other states and the District of Columbia which already have similar laws. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. "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. ", "Green card holders are required to explicitly demonstrate lawful presence, OK? Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles All rights reserved, 53K Mass. 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. 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. Now dip your toe in the water for two bucks $2 for two months. ", "We are once again overcome with happiness, pride and gratitude for today's historic vote in the Massachusetts Senate," 32BJ SEIU Vice President Roxana Rivera and Brazilian Worker Center Executive Director Lenita Reason, who together lead the coalition, said in a joint statement. View All Newsletters. City hopes state legislature boosts shelter aid. The Senate, which passed the final version of the immigrant license bill with a veto-proof 32-8 vote, is expected to override Baker's veto during its formal session 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. Wakeman said the campaign is still working to collect the initial 10 signatures required to launch a referendum campaign. The poll was conducted from April 24 to April 28 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points. This session, having amassed enough votes to steamroll a veto, they went for it. A bill to allow undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses in Massachusetts is all but law Thursday, passing the Senate with a large enough margin to overrule a veto from Gov. Connecticut looks to join Massachusetts, others states in seeking ways to curb deadly highway wrong-way crashes. About 7% are undecided. 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 Huanhua Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou,Guangdong (P.R.China). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. And it puts tremendous pressure on cities and towns to do the cleanup on the back end.". Jun 24, 2021. Full Worm Moon: Will Conditions In MA Favor A Moonbow? The ability to apply for a drivers license is the number one issue for immigrant families, Barber added. 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 Geoff Diehl, a gubernatorial candidate for the state Republican Party, told media in a statement last week, this is a bad bill, and said he would support efforts to overturn in a ballot initiative. 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. Thats bad policy. 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. Additional drivers licenses equal more revenue through application fees, Gomez said. A bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers' licenses has passed the Massachusetts Senate. Tel: +86 20 81608506, Home Illegal immigrants in Massachusetts will be able to obtain driver's licenses after state lawmakers voted Thursday to override a veto from Republican Gov. How legitimate are those concerns? 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. 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. 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. 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. Charlie Baker. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! 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. Zip code: 510375 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. Critics contend it could have negative impacts on public safety and could threaten the electoral process. 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. WebMIRA is proud to be part of the Driving Families Forward Coalition, which is advocating for the Work and Family Mobility Act). The bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license in Massachusetts will now become law. ", Chris Doughty, who is also running for governor as a Republican, circulated a petition on his campaign website in the wake of the override slamming the move and calling for voters to "tell the Legislature right now that you are AGAINST this decision.". Massachusetts to allow illegal immigrants to apply for drivers The first must be either a valid unexpired foreign passport or a valid unexpired consular identification. Story tips can be sent tolouis.casiano@fox.com. It's ironing out the intraparty disagreements that often proves tougher, and more time-consuming. That's a problem," Baker said Thursday morning. 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. Republican Gov. APS ASSESSMENT: False. Sen. Adam Gomez told members of the Senate that the bill would give undocumented members of the community the same flexibility and options everyone else has in driving. 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. The intention would be to put the question to voters on the November 2022 ballot. 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 bill thwarts the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in their efforts for investigations into illegal immigration and crime.. 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. The law specifically mandates that the state Registrar of Motor Vehicles develop procedures and regulations to ensure that license UL/ CUL Constant Volatge LED Power Supply, UL/ CUL Constant Current LED Power Supply, Room 8055, 5th floor. With override, House moves Massachusetts closer to drivers licenses for unauthorized immigrants, Baker vetoes immigrant license access bill. Thank you for your support, but we can't have this in here.". 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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. May 30, 2022 Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has vetoed a bill that would allow immigrants without legal status to get driver's licenses. The House voted 119-36 and the Senate voted 32-8 to override Baker's veto and make the measure law. How legitimate are those concerns? (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File), The Massachusetts State House in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. The Associated Press contributed to this report. "This bill means trust and dignity for immigrants in our state who lack federal status," Chang-Daz said. Charlie Baker and authorizing drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. Banking as an Undocumented Immigrant. Whelan said the new rules would put too heavy a burden on those issuing licenses. |Contact Us. 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. When Massachusetts House and Senate leaders can get most or all of their Democrats on board behind a bill, their supermajority margins render the governor all but inconsequential to what becomes state law. Maloneys son was killed in 2011 by a drunk driver who did not have legal authorization to live in the United States. "We can't have this in here. 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. Dongpeng Debao Commercial Center. 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, joining the Senates three Republicans, SHNS reported. But the decisive roll calls (119-36 in the House and 32-8 in the Senate) may have just triggered the start of a larger fight. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. They made their voices heard on Wednesday afternoon. 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. Nineteen states have laws in place that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers license, including Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Washington. Some Massachusetts residents want drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. Charlie Baker. Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), The MBTA is being sued for the 2021 Green Line crash. State House News Service | 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.". 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. On Wednesday, State House Speaker Ron Mariano said the legislation will "increase safety on our roads by ensuring that everyone has access to a drivers license, regardless of immigration status.". 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. Charlie Baker's opposition. Phil Murphy in December 2019 after a long debate, allows for a standard drivers license to be issued to immigrants regardless of legal status. Mass. 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. No. 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. And that's basically and fundamentally what this bill is. "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. Eight other states are considering similar laws. House Democrats in Massachusetts have passed a controversial measure that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. The Massachusetts House passed legislation Wednesday that opens a pathway for some undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses in the state, a 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. Listen 5:50 Regional News Rep. Richard Neal supports driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts Alden Bourne , May 9, 2022 The House voted 120-36 in favor of the measure. 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. "Trying to ensure our driver's licenses have integrity and cannot be misused for various purposes those are important things, and those things don't go away because of the hardships we've heard about," Tarr added. Sign up for the GBH News Politics email newsletter, featuring complete local politics coverage along with insights from our team of political reporters. However, states regulate who may receive a drivers license or identification card. 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. "That's democracy.". In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. "I don't see this the same way the House and the Senate see it," Baker said Monday. Under the legislation, the Registry of Motor Vehicles would be required to come up with regulations about what specific kinds of documentation are acceptable. "And everyone deserves to feel safe and get to work, pick up children and be a part of their communities without fear. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Unfortunately, Massachusetts is a magnet for undocumented people. The bill still must be approved by the Massachusetts Senate, also controlled by Democrats, before heading to Baker. Fanghua Guangyuan Electronics Co., Ltd. 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. (Thomas Kurmeier via Getty Images), "We are a nation of immigrants. Are we asking them to become experts in foreign documentation and forgery detection? Whelan said. I do not think that we should be rewarding people for being in the country illegally, Maloney said in a phone interview. The state House passed a similar bill by a veto-proof 120-36 margin in February. We also worked closely with the district attorneys who have seen these cases and seen people who are only going to court because they cant get a license.. We couldn't do it without you. Senators voted 32-8 in favor of the controversial Otherwise, a more common initiative petition likely could not go before voters until 2024, more than a year after the July 1, 2023 start date on which immigrants without legal status can begin applying for licenses. At least one document must contain a photograph. Gomez called concerns that the bill would unleash voter fraud a "red herring.". Nobody has filed paperwork for a referendum yet, according to Secretary of State Bill Galvins office, but the group is expected to soon. It would most likely require a two-thirds majority in each chamber of the Massachusetts Legislature for this bill to pass. Gbh News brings you the stories, local voices, and Fumiko Chino, M.D similar legislation in Beacon! 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