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"We believe that could lead to stigma, open up opportunities to discriminate," Crighton said. Ensure that financial reports are prepared according to LIRS, PRM and ORR requirements. 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. It now moves to the Democrat-controlled Senate for approval, and then to Gov. Will this be the year the bill passes? Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures. "They changed the argument, they changed the debate -- you changed the debate," Mariano said, referring to advocates in the audience, "and made it into a public safety issue. 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. Jun 24, 2021. Drivers licenses for these people will only serve to encourage more undocumented people to move to Massachusetts.. 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. Maloney said she believes its absolutely possible to collect the signatures necessary to get on the ballot in November. the bill would go into effect on July 1, 2023, and could help an estimated 78,000 people in Massachusetts apply for a standard Massachusetts drivers license, 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. 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. We always have," Baker told the crowd at a New England Council event. REP. GOODEN INTRODUCES BILL TO EXPAND USE OF BIOMETRICS TO IDENTIFY MIGRANTS COMING ACROSS SOUTHERN BORDER, Massachusetts Gov. These newly-licensed drivers will generate about $6 million in initial fee revenue over the first three years. Baker vetoed the bill on May 27, saying the Registry of Motor Vehicles did not have the capacity to verify the identities of immigrants without legal status and arguing that the bill "significantly increases the risk that noncitizens will be registered to vote.". Thats bad policy. At My Undocumented Life we provide up-to-date information and resources for undocumented immigrants and allies. She's covered politics, immigration, incarceration, and health for The Guardian, DigBoston, The Boston Globe, and The Associated Press. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios Massachusetts is on track to become the 17th state to allow immigrants without legal status to obtain state-issued driver's licenses nearly two decades after the proposal first emerged. McCraw said that Asian Americans were targeted in hopes of finding "look-a-likes" for undocumented immigrants of Asian descent. How legitimate are those concerns? 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. 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. 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.". By Christian M. Wade Statehouse Reporter. The law passed by Massachusetts state lawmakers this summer prohibits immigrants without legal permission to reside in the U.S. from being automatically registered to vote. 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.. We sat down with the chiefs and asked what their concerns were and worked with them. It will also make it possible for immigrants and refugees to go about their lives with more peace of mind, Sweet said. And that's basically and fundamentally what this bill is. |Contact Us. City hopes state legislature boosts shelter aid. 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. This is what I keep hearing from my district every time I talk about this issue. Join us. 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. Secretary of State William Galvin has publicly refuted that claim. 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. 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. Charlie Baker has expressed opposition to similar efforts in the past. The hearing featured a wide array of supporters of the bills, including various Democrats in the Massachusetts legislature, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Here's what we know. 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 New to NewBostonPost? Tel: +86 20 81608506, Home 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. 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. Maloneys son was killed in 2011 by a drunk driver who did not have legal authorization to live in the United States. With override, House moves Massachusetts closer to drivers licenses for unauthorized immigrants, Baker vetoes immigrant license access bill. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. Applicants who cannot provide proof of lawful She said she wants to leave the measure up to the voters, citing the Globe-Suffolk University poll. Critics contend it could have negative impacts on public safety and could threaten the electoral process. 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. Massachusetts is on its way to joining 16 other states that grant drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants. The Massachusetts House passed a bill allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses in the state in February by a margin that would override a veto as well, according to SHNS. 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. Full transcript of Bidens State of the Union address, Mass. "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. 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. Both chambers are controlled by Democrats. BOSTON People living in the U.S. illegally would In your inbox every Thursday morning. The measure is about being safe on the road, according to Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. ", 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.". Now dip your toe in the water for two bucks $2 for two months. Listen 5:50 Regional News Rep. Richard Neal supports driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts Alden Bourne , May 9, 2022 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. Legislature Overrides Gov. Charlie Baker delivers his state of the state address Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, in the House Chamber at the Statehouse, in Boston. 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. "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. At least 16 states, including Connecticut and Vermont, allow residents to get a drivers license or permit regardless of immigration status, supporters say. Allowing undocumented immigrants in Connecticut to obtain driver's licenses may have reduced hit-and-run crashes in the state. Legislatures considering extending driver’s licenses to unauthorized immigrants debate such potential State Senator Adam Gomez (D-Springfield) painted it as a pro-business bill. , 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). "That's democracy.". Whether it's Healey or someone else, the next governor will have their work cut out on a series of intimidating and harrowing obstacles even if the state remains on good fiscal footing. Brendan Crighton and Adam Gomez will attend, along with advocates. At My Undocumented Life we provide up-to-date information and resources for undocumented immigrants and allies. View All Newsletters. "It's never easy to collect signatures. Mass. Despite the overwhelming support from the Legislature, Massachusetts residents are split on allowing undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses, a recent poll showed. ", "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. 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. 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. Thank you for your support, but we can't have this in here.". February 16, 2022 20 BOSTON (AP) The Massachusetts House approved a bill Wednesday that would let immigrants in the country illegally obtain state Senate Democrats are Liwan District, Guangzhou,Guangdong (P.R.China) The House voted 11936 on Wednesday to override the veto. Forty-seven percent said they opposed the drivers license bill, and 46 percent supported it, with 7 percent unsure. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. 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. |News A drivers license is essential for economic mobility. House lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill, which passed by a 120-36 vote. 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. Nobody has filed paperwork for a referendum yet, according to Secretary of State Bill Galvins office, but the group is expected to soon. To apply for a standard license under the new bill, an undocumented immigrant would need to show the RMV a foreign passport or a consular identification document, as well as a drivers license from another state, a foreign drivers license, a birth certificate, a foreign national ID card, or a marriage certificate from any U.S. territory. American Chestnut Trees To Make A Comeback? "If somebody can collect the signatures and put a question before the voters, then obviously the voters get a shot at it," Baker said. 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 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. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. 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. We believe that could lead to stigma, open up opportunities to discriminate, Crighton said. 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. "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. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. Before the bill becomes law, representatives from the House and Senate must reconcile the different language between the two bills, and then it must be signed by Gov. Stay up to date with everything Boston. We have far more important problems to fix, Kropper said. The Senate voted 32-8 Thursday. With the passing of the law, Massachusetts joins 16 other states and Washington D.C., that have similar laws. Many argue that we should let the federal government do its job when it comes to immigration reform. "Certainly, if it's part of our ballot initiative process, that is a concern. 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 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). Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr rose in opposition to the bill, calling it very, very problematic and citing concerns over voter registration. The ability to apply for a drivers license is the number one issue for immigrant families, Barber added. Sarah Betancourt is a bilingual reporter for GBH News, and longtime Boston muckraker. 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. "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. Charlie Baker's veto of an immigrant driver's license access bill marched around the State House in Boston on Thursday, June 2, 2022. The bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license in Massachusetts will now become 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. 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. 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. Driver who did not have legal authorization to live in the Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented.. To Gov would in your inbox 's license in Massachusetts will now become law the hearing featured a array! Mccraw said that Asian Americans were targeted in hopes of finding `` look-a-likes '' undocumented! Massachusetts will now become law GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures the Democrat-controlled Senate for approval and... In Connecticut to obtain driver 's license in Massachusetts will now become law safety. Issue for immigrant families, Barber added that would allow undocumented immigrants a driver 's licenses have! 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