Connecticut looks to join Massachusetts, others states in seeking ways to curb deadly highway wrong-way crashes. How legitimate are those concerns? Undocumented immigrants will still 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. Forty-seven percent said they opposed the drivers license bill, and 46 percent supported it, with 7 percent unsure. 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. All rights reserved. The measure is about being safe on the road, according to Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. 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. Massachusetts to allow illegal immigrants to apply for drivers Further, newly-licensed drivers are likely to generate an additional $5 million per year in tax revenue once the law is fully rolled out. We all benefit from increased public safety," state Senate President Karen Spilka said after Baker's veto in May. Advocates have long said undocumented immigrants would still be tested before driving, and go through qualifications a citizen driver would have to go through something opponents have pointed out as a concern in the past. Migrants have faced a warm welcome but major challenges, like housing and education. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. 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. All rights reserved. Legislature Overrides Gov. A Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll of 800 Massachusetts residents published in the spring showed residents were divided on the issue. But the legislature gets the final word. American Chestnut Trees To Make A Comeback? He also said that Massachusetts cannot wait for Congress to offer protections for people who are in the country illegally. In an event that Mass. The bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license in Massachusetts will now become law. |News Maloney said she believes its absolutely possible to collect the signatures necessary to get on the ballot in November. We believe that could lead to stigma, open up opportunities to discriminate, Crighton said. 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. 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. Gomez called concerns that the bill would unleash voter fraud a "red herring.". , 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). 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. She's covered politics, immigration, incarceration, and health for The Guardian, DigBoston, The Boston Globe, and The Associated Press. The bill would not register undocumented immigrants to vote. Democrat Sens. 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. Connecticut saw a reduction of hit-and run crashes, and a decline in the number of people found guilty of unlicensed driving, a 2019 investigation by the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting found. At least 16 states, including Connecticut and Vermont, allow residents to get a drivers license or permit regardless of immigration status, supporters say. 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. Similar ceremonies for other legislation usually feature Baker wielding a pen over the parchment, but in this case it was Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano wielding their override pens. That's a problem," Baker said Thursday morning. As Beacon Hill moves toward undocumented drivers' licenses, big-city mayors voice support, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures. 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. "If somebody can collect the signatures and put a question before the voters, then obviously the voters get a shot at it," Baker said. Republican candidate Geoff Diehl said he would support a ballot question to repeal the legislation, according to statement from his campaign. The House voted 11936 on Wednesday to override the veto. We fully support submitting this question to the people to give them a direct say in their future," Diehl said Thursday without making clear. 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. The bill has won support from many of the states sheriffs and district attorneys and the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police. (Thomas Kurmeier via Getty Images), "We are a nation of immigrants. All rights reserved, 53K Mass. Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. "It sends the wrong message," Frost said. 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. "That's democracy.". ", "Green card holders are required to explicitly demonstrate lawful presence, OK? The governor said at the time that the legislation would create problems for the Registry of Motor Vehicles, which he said lacks the expertise to verify the types of identification immigrants use from other countries, a requirement of the bill. "But I think we've got enough interest to do it. She was a reporter for CommonWealth Magazine, and senior immigration reporter for Law360. An Act Relative To Work and Family Mobility During and Subsequent to the COVID-19 Emergency doesnt mention either drivers licenses or illegal immigrants. "I consistently voted against this bill and I remain opposed to its passage into law.". 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. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. Dongpeng Debao Commercial Center. 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. Undocumented workers in some states must choose between driving illegally and risking exposure to the virus by sharing rides. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! City hopes state legislature boosts shelter aid. Allowing undocumented immigrants to get around more easily would allow them to increase their earning potential and employers right now are having trouble recruiting qualified workers amid a time of record low unemployment in the state. 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. Both Democratic candidates, Maura Healey and Sonia Chang-Daz, have voiced their support for the veto override. 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. The bill would open up access to the former license type, which cannot be used to board a flight or access a federal building, regardless of immigration status. Opioid overdose deaths reached a new high in 2021, according to data released this week, fueled in part by the widespread presence of fentanyl and the anguish imposed by the pandemic. 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, Applicants who cannot provide proof of lawful Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. or redistributed. Thats because the states Republican governor, Charlie Baker, opposes giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. Contrary to prevailing opinions and fears, undocumented immigrants do have banking rights within the United States and can open bank accounts. 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. 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. Once the law is fully implemented, new drivers are likely to spend $62 million on car insurance policies. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. By Christian M. Wade Statehouse Reporter. Massachusetts is on its way to joining 16 other states that grant drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants. The bill provides illegal immigrants the opportunity to obtain a drivers license in the Commonwealth starting in July 2023. If passed into law, immigrants would qualify for a Massachusetts standard Kathy Lynch, a Republican state committee member from Westford, said she worries that the bill could result in fraud. An aide to Baker said he supports existing state laws that allow those in the country legally to obtain drivers licenses. "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. 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. State Representative Christine Barber (D-Somerville) was among those who cited economic reasons for giving drivers licenses to illegals. The Massachusetts House on Wednesday voted to override the governor's veto of the driver's license bill. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. We know in other states that have passed this bill, passed a form of driver's licenses for immigrants, that hit-and-run accidents go down by 10 percent, House co-sponsor Tricia Farley-Bouvier told GBH News on Thursday morning. 109. Charlie Baker. "Today, the House took a significant step towards bringing all Massachusetts drivers under the same licensing and insurance standards, regardless of immigration status," House Speaker Ron Mariano said. "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. Tom Homan: Biden is most concerned with optics. Those seeking a license must present at least two documents. The poll was conducted from April 24 to April 28 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points. Charlie Baker and authorizing drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. If he vetoes the bill, it would go back to the Legislature to see if the veto would be overridden. I dont support drivers licenses for people who are undocumented, Baker said during a 2014 GBH debate. 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 contend it could have negative impacts on public safety and could threaten the electoral process. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. It would most likely require a two-thirds majority in each chamber of the Massachusetts Legislature for this bill to pass. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. The bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license in Massachusetts will now become law. 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. Sign up for the GBH News Politics email newsletter, featuring complete local politics coverage along with insights from our team of political reporters. Illegal immigrants in Massachusetts will be able to obtain driver's licenses after state lawmakers voted Thursday to override a veto from Republican Gov. 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. House lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill, which passed by a 120-36 vote. She's covered politics, immigration, incarceration, and health for The Guardian, DigBoston, The Boston Globe, and The Associated Press. 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. "It is unnecessary because we are just focused on the ability of someone to drive.". 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. Some Massachusetts residents want drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. "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. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. 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. Dongpeng Debao Commercial Center. Maureen Maloney and Kevin Dube filed paperwork with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance on Monday to create the Fair And Secure Massachusetts committee, intending to repeal drivers licenses for illegal aliens, according to one of the forms. The vote was 32 to 8, with five Democrats voting with the chambers Republicans against the bill, State House News Service (SHNS) reported. The override was not the only display of political strength Democrats made this week. 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. Speakers pepped up the crowd and recounted the license policy's long road toward becoming law, with one legislator recalling that it was a young Rep. Marty Walsh who first filed the bill many years ago. "This bill would provide broad benefits to our municipalities. Starting July 1, 2023, anyone in Massachusetts regardless of immigration status can apply for a standard driver's license. 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. 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