Forty-seven percent said they opposed the drivers license bill, and 46 percent supported it, with 7 percent unsure. In your inbox every Thursday morning. If passed into law, immigrants would qualify for a Massachusetts standard driver's license if they presented valid proof of identity, date of birth and state residency. The new rules would apply to those who do not have proof they are in the country legally, including those not eligible for a Social Security number. Charlie Baker's formal opposition. That surplus-bound outlook is, well, pick your description from the latest batch offered this week: "rosy," as Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation President Eileen McAnneny put it; "absolutely unprecedented," in the words of MTF's Executive Vice President Doug Howgate; or "just crazy," as Baker told business leaders. "Leah and I will not sit by idly and watch the consequences of this bill take away the safety and democratic rights of Massachusetts residents. Legislators have several more steps to complete before the bill can become state law. WebMIRA is proud to be part of the Driving Families Forward Coalition, which is advocating for the Work and Family Mobility Act). Two conference committees kicked off their work this week, one tasked with resolving major differences between House and Senate sports betting bills and the other assigned with producing a final annual state budget. 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. Whelan said the new rules would put too heavy a burden on those issuing licenses. Join us. This isnt a slam dunk in the world of law enforcement by any reasonable measure.. 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. 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. Sixteen other states already allow undocumented immigrants to acquire licenses. A bill that would make undocumented immigrants eligible for drivers licenses has cleared its first major hurdle, with House members passing it with a veto-proof 120-36 majority. Despite the overwhelming support from the Legislature, Massachusetts residents are split on allowing undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses, a recent poll showed. The bill thwarts the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in their efforts for investigations into illegal immigration and crime.. Are we demanding too much of our Registry of Motor Vehicle clerks? Many argue that we should let the federal government do its job when it comes to immigration reform. The Senate voted 32-8 Thursday. But youve found it. The final vote in the Senate was 328 to approve the bill over Baker's objection. 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. "In addition to increasing safety on our roads for all drivers, this legislation recognizes the essential role our immigrant neighbors play in our society and economy by ensuring that everyone has access to a drivers license. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. 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. Maloney said she believes its absolutely possible to collect the signatures necessary to get on the ballot in November. Fattman said local elections officials in his district had contacted him expressing concerns about the topic, and bill backers fired back that the state already has protections in place to prevent ineligible residents from registering to vote. At least one piece of documentation must have a photograph. |Service Liwan District, Guangzhou,Guangdong (P.R.China) Senate Democrats are We always have," Baker told the crowd at a New England Council event. The calendar could shape the dynamics at play there. State Senator Adam Gomez (D-Springfield) painted it as a pro-business bill. 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. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. The Massachusetts House approved a bill Wednesday that would let immigrants in the country illegally obtain state drivers licenses. 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. 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. A Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published in the spring showed residents were divided on the issue. 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.". Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. Tom Homan: Biden is most concerned with optics. We believe that could lead to stigma, open up opportunities to discriminate, Crighton said. Support GBH. More than 100 lawmakers have signed onto bills that would make Massachusetts the 17th state to give undocumented immigrants the ability to obtain If the committee collects 40,120 certified signatures by Aug. 24 for a local election official to certify, and then file with the Secretary of States office by Sept. 7, the question can go on the November 2022 ballot. State Senator Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) said that he sympathizes with those who fear deportation because they frequently drive illegally because their immigration status prevents them from getting a drivers license from the state. And this time they could actually pass. No. 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. Illegal immigrants in Massachusetts will be able to obtain driver's licenses after state lawmakers voted Thursday to override a veto from Republican Gov. All rights reserved, Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter, Mass. 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. Support GBH. I dont support drivers licenses for people who are undocumented, Baker said during a 2014 GBH debate. 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.. ", "Green card holders are required to explicitly demonstrate lawful presence, OK? 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. 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. I do not think that we should be rewarding people for being in the country illegally, Maloney said in a phone interview. We couldn't do it without you. 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. Illegal immigrants in Massachusetts will be able to obtain driver's licenses after state lawmakers voted Thursday to override a veto from Republican Gov. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles Mass. Charlie Charlie Baker. 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. APS ASSESSMENT: False. |Profile Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. 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. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. "That was never really on the table here in Massachusetts," he said. Justice Kimberly S. Budd said leaders need to advocate for people who cant afford their own counsel. "I consistently voted against this bill and I remain opposed to its passage into law.". Conservative media is hard to find in Massachusetts. Market data provided by Factset. Republican Gov. The title of both bills . "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. Charlie Baker's veto of an immigrant driver's license access bill marched around the State House in Boston on Thursday, June 2, 2022. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. Please join us as we make a difference in the lives of newcomers. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Sign up for the GBH News Politics email newsletter, featuring complete local politics coverage along with insights from our team of political reporters. 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. It could also prevent undocumented immigrants from fleeing police during a traffic stop for the sake of preventing identification as an undocumented immigrant and risking deportation, supporters say, according to SHNS. Granting immigration status is the job of the federal government. The margin was still more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto from the governor. The override was not the only display of political strength Democrats made this week. BOSTON (AP) The Massachusetts House approved a bill Wednesday that would let immigrants in the country illegally obtain state drivers licenses. These newly-licensed drivers will generate about $6 million in initial fee revenue over the first three years. "We believe that could lead to stigma, open up opportunities to discriminate," Crighton 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. 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 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. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. 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. During the debate over the bill Thursday, SHNS reported, the five Democrats and three Republicans argued for having drivers licenses issued to undocumented immigrants reflect their undocumented status in some form. The state Senate joined the House Thursday in overriding a veto by Gov. Oversee budget development for new programs within RIS and update budgets for existing programs. 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.". Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. 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. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "It sends the wrong message," Frost said. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! 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. By 2019, 50,000 undocumented immigrants had taken written exams, vision tests, and road tests to get drivers licenses. This story was updated to include more details from the legislative debate, as well as reaction to the vote and background on the issue. Charlie Baker, who has opposed similar legislation in the past. Market data provided by Factset. Charlie Baker and authorizing drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. 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 Associated Press contributed to this report. It will also make it possible for immigrants and refugees to go about their lives with more peace of mind, Sweet said. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Other states like California, New York and Utah already do the same. New to NewBostonPost? 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