GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Sunday did not criticize Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida for flying immigrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard last week. Instead, he blamed Democrats and Republicans in Washington for failing to pass comprehensive legislation to address the nation’s “screwed up” immigration system. “It’s not a secret to anyone that our immigration system […]
Immigration
Posted inImmigration, Politics
Why are migrants being flown to Martha’s Vineyard?
Why is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flying immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard? It appears to be mainly a move made for political gain. DeSantis appears to have flown two planeloads of immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard from another state – Texas – with no warning or coordination with officials in Massachusetts. News reports indicate the two flights […]
Posted inImmigration, Politics, Transportation
Diehl, through signature effort, finds an issue
REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL candidate Geoff Diehl, whose campaign has been searching for an issue to run on, apparently helped create one. Proponents of an initiative petition overturning a law allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses said on Wednesday they had gathered more than twice as many signatures as they need to put the measure on […]
Posted inImmigration, State House News Service
Signature effort on immigrant driver’s license law nears goal
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE CAMPAIGN to repeal the new driver’s license law, which is set to open up license access to immigrants without legal status in Massachusetts, said it hit a milestone Wednesday and turned in the requisite number of signatures to print the repeal question on the November ballot. Secretary of State Bill […]
Posted inCourts, Immigration, Politics
Judge denies Mass GOP request for restraining order against state senator
A MIDDLESEX SUPERIOR COURT judge on Friday declined to issue a restraining order sought by Massachusetts Republican Party chairman Jim Lyons against state Sen. Jamie Eldridge. Lyons wanted to keep Eldridge away from volunteers who were collecting signatures for a referendum to overturn a law granting driver’s licenses to immigrants without legal status. Michael […]
Posted inImmigration, Transportation
Undocumented immigrants can get Mass. drivers’ licenses in July 2023
THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE completed its override of Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto on Thursday, allowing immigrants without legal status to obtain a driver’s license in Massachusetts. The state is the 17th, in addition to Washington, DC, to adopt that policy. The House overrode Baker’s veto with a 119-36 vote on Wednesday. The Senate followed suit Thursday with a […]
Posted inImmigration, Transportation
Baker vetoes driver’s license bill for undocumented immigrants
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Friday vetoed a bill that would have allowed immigrants without legal status to obtain a Massachusetts driver’s license, a day after the bill reached his desk. In his veto letter, Baker cited concerns about identification and about unintentionally giving non-citizens the ability to vote. “I cannot sign this legislation because it […]
Posted inPolitics
House, Senate agree quickly on immigrant driver’s license bill
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A BILL THAT WOULD open access to Massachusetts driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants could reach Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk as soon as next week after legislative negotiators struck a quick deal Thursday. Only a few hours after Senate leaders made their picks for a conference committee to iron out a final […]