Senate to debate immigrant licenses
Republicans seeking new ID
The state Senate is ready to begin debate on a new law which would see people without legal immigration status licensed to drive by the state.
“We are incredibly eager to see the Senate vote in support of the Work and Family Mobility Act,” Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, told the Herald.
“For nearly two decades, advocates have pushed for undocumented immigrants to have access to drivers licenses because doing so would benefit public safety and the economy. Sixteen states allow immigrants to apply for a driver’s license regardless of their status. We look forward to seeing Massachusetts become the 17th,” she said.
State Sen. Bruce Tarr, the chamber’s leading Republican, has submitted a raft of amendments which would substantially change the law being considered, potentially forcing lengthy committee work to iron out the differences between the two chamber’s proposals.
Tarr proposes amending the bill to limit the issuance of Real IDs and standard licenses to citizens and establishing a separate driver’s privilege card for those without legal status.
Those cards, according to the amendments, would be a different color and would not be eligible for use as government identification. Applicants would have to demonstrate eligibility for the license by showing they had lived in the commonwealth for five years and were current on all taxes. Those with felony convictions would be barred from licensure.
Tarr also seeks to separate licensure from voter registration for those without legal status though a mechanism which would notify town clerks of licensee’s legal status.
Amendments to the bill were due on Monday, with 25 submitted by deadline.
Of those 25, 15 were submitted by Tarr.
Tarr was not available for comment.
Gov. Charlie Baker said last week he was still against the idea of issuing licenses to those without legal status, specifically citing the fact that state law in Massachusetts automatically registers a driver to vote when they are licensed.
The proposal would see immigrants without legal status but who have the ability to demonstrate their identity with a path toward driving legally. At current immigrants can register and insure cars but cannot get driver’s licenses.
The bill due for debate in the Senate on Thursday, S. 2851, is not much different than a bill passed by the House in February, with one senator describing the differences as technical.
The House passed its version 120-36, a majority that would also be able to override the governor’s veto power.