Around New England

Supporters of Repealing Driver’s-Licenses-For-Illegal-Immigrants Law In Massachusetts Say They Have The Signatures To Put Referendum On The Ballot

August 24, 2022

Supporters of an effort to repeal a new state law allowing illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses in Massachusetts gotten far more signatures than they need to get a referendum on the general election ballot in November, organizers said.

Fair and Secure Massachusetts made the announcement Wednesday, August 24, according to the Massachusetts Republican Party, which also supports the effort.

“What we’re seeing is democracy in action,” said Jim Lyons, chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, during a press conference in Boston on Wednesday. “We have a legislature dominated by radical leftists who simply want to interfere with our own rights.”

Lyons noted that some opponents of the signature drive tried to keep people from signing petitions at supermarkets.

Lyons said organizers have about 78,000 signatures of registered voters certified by town clerks and city clerks, though they still need to get signature papers to the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s office. Organizers need 40,120 for the initiative petition, which essentially seeks to provide a veto of the state legislature’s action by the voters.

Supporters of allowing illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses in Massachusetts released statements Wednesday saying they will fight the ballot initiative during the coming campaign. One such group is called Driving Families Forward.

“Although we are disappointed that this unnecessary and divisive repeal question appears to be moving forward, we are also more determined than ever to defend the expansion of permission to apply for a driver’s licenses to all qualified state residents, regardless of immigration status,” said Driving Families Forward leaders Lenita Reason, executive director of the Brazilian Worker Center, and Roxana Rivera, executive vice president of the 32BJ local chapter of Service Employees International Union, in a written statement.

The Democrat-dominated Massachusetts Legislature earlier this year enacted a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses starting in mid-2023, over the veto of Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican.

Supporters of allowing illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses say the immigrants deserve them and that allowing them to become licensed to drive will enable them to get to work and school without fear and improve safety by enabling illegal immigrants to get car insurance.

Opponents seeking to repeal the law say it encourages people to come to Massachusetts illegally and stay here, and that it may enable non-citizens to vote.

New to NewBostonPost?  Conservative media is hard to find in Massachusetts.  But you’ve found it.  Now dip your toe in the water for two bucks — $2 for two months.  And join the real revolution.