Immigrants without legal status had reason to celebrate Thursday, when the state’s Senate passed a driver’s license bill advocates say will allow them to drive safely and without fear of doing so illegally.
“Since undocumented immigrants need to drive to work, and the grocery store, and virtually all other aspects of their daily lives, ensuring safety on the roads is paramount,” Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, said in Thursday release.
“MIRA has supported universal access to driver’s licenses since 2003, when it was first introduced on Beacon Hill. We are thrilled to see the years of diligent and tireless work by so many immigrant leaders and advocates finally coming to fruition,” she said.
The Work and Family Mobility Act moved through the senate by a veto proof majority, 32-8, with each of 15 amendments offered by Republican Minority Leader Bruce Tarr rejected in turn.
The bill lets those who demonstrate their identity but can’t demonstrate legal status to earn licenses, which advocates say will make the roads safer by allowing those drivers to go through the driver’s testing process.
According to Tarr, the ramifications of granting licenses to those without legal status will be felt in more places than traffic, an outcome he reminded his colleagues to consider.
“That…is our highest responsibility, to ensure that when we act in this chamber, in order to remedy one thing, that we do not cause problems for public safety, and our voting system, and identification,” the Gloucester senator said.
Several of Tarr’s amendments offered ways to distinguish between a license granted to a person with legal status and a person without. Senators rejected those amendments as an easy means of prejudicing those without legal status.
“There is really no need for anyone to know what the citizenship status is of the drivers that plan to earn a driver’s license under this bill,” Sen. Brendan Crighton said.
Gov. Charlie Baker would not say Thursday whether he would bother to veto the bill, which passed both chambers by veto proof margins. The two legislative chambers will have to work out their differences, described as technical by one senator, before Baker must decide.
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Immigrants without legal status (criminal illegal immigrants) had reason to celebrate Thursday, when the Democrat Party ruled state’s Senate passed a driver’s license bill advocates say will allow them to drive safely and without fear of doing so illegally.
Next the Democrat Party ruled state’s Senate will pass a bill to allow criminal illegal immigrants to vote.
MORE and more i am advocating that NO STATE should use Drivers licenses as “Proof you are entitled to vote”, since more and more states, are giving out DL’s to illegal invaders.
They do not have to pass any law allowing illegal invaders the right to vote just do a california which allowing abyone with a driver license the right to vote. Bet the right to have a driver license does not include any madate about being insured. Bet over 98% of illegal invaders will never have their vehicles insured. I am giving them a lot of slack by saying 98% which is more like 9.99%
That’s a good point. I know folks, who’ve LOST their licenses, because of ‘failure to show insurance’.. SO WILL ANYONE BE VETTING these ilelgal aliens, to ensure THEY HAVE insurance?!
2 things
1. Please give their name and address to ICE to deport.
2. They are not state residents per the constitution. Read it. The constitution used the word “and” in order to be a citizen you must be a federal citizen and a state citizen. You must be both.
Taxachusetts has been a cesspool for years. This move only solidifies their standing as one of the worst states in the country to live and work.
High taxes, high crime, out of control illegal immigration…. Now driver’s licenses for illegals? That’s just wonderful.
I thank God every day I live in the Great State of Florida, run by the best Guv in the country, Ron DeSantis.
why should we care if illegal criminals can’t drive to work–
why are they given work–
they are criminals and the people hiring them need to go to jail-
it is utterly disgusting that state legislators are enabling criminal activity-
every person that voted to pass the bills should be shown the door
and kicked out of their job-
and the most stupid statement to come out of the assembly- “the fear of prejudicing those illegals”-
they are illegals you numbskulls -and as such have no specific rights to anything in this country
let them go home and come back through the legal processes and be welcomed –
instead of being the subject of scorn-which they brought upon themselves
That’s a valid point. LEGALLY These illegals should not even be HAVING JOBS.. So why would they ‘need legal means to drive TO those jobs”??