Immigrants with out authorized standing had purpose to have a good time Thursday, when the state’s Senate handed a driver’s license invoice advocates say will enable them to drive safely and with out worry 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, stated in Thursday launch.
“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 stated.
The Work and Family Mobility Act moved via the senate by a veto proof majority, 32-8, with every of 15 amendments provided by Republican Minority Leader Bruce Tarr rejected in flip.
The invoice lets those that reveal their id however can’t reveal authorized standing to earn licenses, which advocates say will make the roads safer by permitting these drivers to undergo the driving force’s testing course of.
According to Tarr, the ramifications of granting licenses to these with out authorized standing can be felt in additional locations than visitors, an final result he reminded his colleagues to think about.
“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 stated.
Several of Tarr’s amendments provided methods to differentiate between a license granted to an individual with authorized standing and an individual with out. Senators rejected these amendments as a straightforward technique of prejudicing these with out authorized standing.
“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 stated.
Gov. Charlie Baker wouldn’t say Thursday whether or not he would trouble to veto the invoice, which handed each chambers by veto proof margins. The two legislative chambers should work out their variations, described as technical by one senator, earlier than Baker should resolve.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”