Yo Daddy!
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Mass. Senate overrides Baker veto: Undocumented immigrants will be able to get driver's licenses
Katie Lannan / SHNS
By Sarah Betancourt
June 9, 2022
The state Senate joined the House Thursday in overriding a veto by Gov. Charlie Baker and authorizing driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants. The final vote in the Senate was 32–8 to approve the bill over Baker's objection.
The new law will allow immigrants without legal status to apply for a standard state driver’s license beginning July 1, 2023.
It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about or keeping documents related to immigration status.
“This is a well-vetted piece of legislation. We've gained support from a wide range of stakeholders over the course of a number of years,” said lead sponsor Sen. Brendan Crighton ahead of the vote on Thursday.
“Our lives are safer when every single driver has to pass a road test, a vision test, and obtain insurance.”
Proponents said the measure will improve road safety and assuage immigrants’ worries of being revealed as undocumented and face deportation because of a routine traffic stop or accident.
As of 2016, there are about 250,000 undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts, according to a report from the American Immigration Council.
Mass. Senate overrides Baker veto: Undocumented immigrants will be able to get driver's licenses
Vote makes Massachusetts the 17th state to approve such licenses.
www.wgbh.org
I had heard rumors of illegals being allowed to get drivers licenses.
But this is the first confirmation I have seen of that "development."