Prospective Michigan drivers wouldn’t have to prove their U.S. citizenship when applying for a license under legislation introduced by Democratic state lawmakers Thursday.
The Drive SAFE plan, short for Safety, Access, Freedom, and the Economy, would let any resident who meets age requirements and can prove Michigan residency obtain a state identification card or apply for a driver’s license, including immigrants living in Michigan without legal permission.
The bills- Senate Bills 631 and 632 and House Bills 5192 and 5193 - are sponsored by Sens. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, and Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, in the Senate and Reps. Alex Garza, D-Taylor, and Rachel Hood, D-Grand Rapids, in the House.
Chang has sponsored similar legislation in the past, and said during a Thursday press conference the bills would make the roads safer while giving a wide swath of residents more options.
“As a daughter of immigrants, I know that it is so important that we acknowledge that our state is becoming increasingly diverse,” she said. “We believe it’s critical for our state to ensure that people who can’t prove legal presence are able to get driver’s licenses.”
Several immigrants rights groups, unions, religious organizations and farming associations announced their support of the legislation Thursday.
The concept is also supported by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who told immigrant rights group Movimiento Cosecha Michigan this summer that opening up access to driver’s licenses is “something that’s important to me, it’s important to our economy and it’s important to the people of Michigan.”
Grand Rapids officials recently endorsed the idea as well - the city’s mayor and commissioners sent a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state legislators earlier this year offering their support for such legislation. Commissioner Jon O’Connor read the letter publicly Tuesday, Oct. 23, after 20 residents spoke in favor of the initiative during the evening city commission meeting.
But the effort will likely be a tough sell in the Republican-controlled state legislature. Republicans in both the House and Senate have said state and local governments shouldn’t be able to hinder enforcement of federal immigration law.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 13 states and the District of Columbia currently have laws on the books that don’t require applicants for a driver’s license to provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
Before 2008, Michigan was one of the states that issued driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status. But in late 2007 former Attorney General Mike Cox, a Republican, issued an opinion saying driver’s licenses could not be issued to those without legal permission to live in the U.S., and a law was later passed to codify that opinion.
Pamela Quintana-Salazar, a student at Michigan State University, said during Thursday’s press conference that when she was about 12 years old, there was panic in her household when her mother realized she would no longer be eligible for a driver’s license.
Public transportation wasn’t available, Quintana-Salazar said, adding that walking was often not an option for her mother to go long distances to work, the doctor or to school while worked to get the necessary documentation.
“The little freedom she was able to have at the time was snatched away from her right before her eyes,” she said. “All she wanted was a little bit of freedom and dignity back so she didn’t have to be scared to take her kids to school."
The legislation would have to pass the full House, Senate and be signed by Whitmer to become law.
Related links:
Whitmer, Dems support expanding driver’s licenses to all immigrants
Driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants supported by Grand Rapids officials