Undocumented immigrants could obtain a Michigan driver license or state identification card under Democratic legislation that sponsors hope to make law this year.
Supporters say that giving more illegal immigrants legal permission to drive to work, medical appointments or other functions without the threat of arrest or deportation is a matter of “human dignity” that would benefit the economy, including farmers who rely on seasonal labor.
“It is not the state government’s purview or job to fix our broken immigration system,” House Majority Floor Leader Abraham Aiyash, D-Hamtramck, said.
“We’re not going to wait for the federal government to act to make sure that all Michiganders are going to be safe.”
“My colleagues and I will do everything we can to make sure that we have the votes that are necessary to get these bills passed and signed into law,” Senate Civil Rights Committee Chair Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, told reporters.
“There’s not an apple, blueberry, asparagus, turkey, egg (farm) that this legislation wouldn’t help,” said Rob Steffens. “Our people want to follow the law, but they can’t.”
More from BridgeMI
- In Michigan, an affordable housing ‘emergency’ looms
- Michigan Democrats in no rush to prioritize ‘fixing the damn roads’
- Michigan passes $21.5B school budget with boost for at-risk students
- Cooling off period proposed for Michigan lawmakers to become lobbyists
- Lawsuit aims to disqualify Trump from Michigan ballot
FAQs
Q: What do Michigan House bills 4410-4412 do?
A: Michigan House bills 4410-4412 would make noncommercial Michigan driver’s licenses and state identification cards available to applicants who do not have proof of U.S. citizenship or immigration status.
Q: Why are these bills being introduced?
A: The bills are being introduced to address the needs of undocumented immigrants and other noncitizens who need a driver’s license or state identification card for driving, employment, and other purposes.
Q: Who would be eligible for a noncommercial Michigan driver’s license or state identification card under these bills?
A: To be eligible for a noncommercial Michigan driver’s license or state identification card under these bills, an applicant must:
- Be at least 16 years old
- Be a resident of Michigan
- Meet all other requirements for a driver’s license or state identification card, except for the requirement of proof of U.S. citizenship or immigration status
Q: How would noncommercial Michigan driver’s licenses and state identification cards be different from regular Michigan driver’s licenses and state identification cards?
A: Noncommercial Michigan driver’s licenses and state identification cards would have the same appearance and function as regular Michigan driver’s licenses and state identification cards, except that they would be marked “NONCOMMERCIAL” and would not be valid for travel outside of the United States.
Q: When would these bills take effect if they are passed?
A: If these bills are passed and signed into law, they would take effect on October 1, 2024.
Additional information:
The bills were introduced by Representative Stephanie Chang on September 28, 2023.
The bills have been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Please note that this is just a summary of the legislation and does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions about the legislation, you should consult with an attorney.
More Posts
Department of Attorney General Prepares for MLEAC Accreditation
LANSING – The Michigan Department of Attorney General (DAG) recently welcomed a team of assessors from the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (MLEAC). The assessors came to examine all aspects of the Department’s compliance with the MLEAC standards in...
Oklahoma’s wild marijuana market is about to shrivel
The world's weed market, once booming with nearly 14,000 licensed medical marijuana businesses at its peak, has experienced a steady decline since Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly rejected a recreational legalization referendum in March. Heightened enforcement by state...
400K settlement after being arrested for a DUI, even though he passed breath and blood tests
A Colorado man is poised to receive a $400,000 settlement from city authorities after being wrongfully arrested for a DUI, even though he had passed both a breath and blood test.According to the complaint, Elias was driving southbound on College Avenue in Fort Collins...
Evaluation of Field Sobriety Tests for Identifying Drivers Under the Influence of Cannabis
This randomized clinical trial investigates the accuracy of field sobriety tests administered by law enforcement officers to assess functional impairment and driving performance among individuals who have smoked cannabis. Question How accurate are field sobriety tests...
When Being Questioned by the Police: Can They Lie to You?
When Being Questioned by the Police: Can They Lie to You? Introduction In the United States, police officers are generally allowed to lie to suspects during interrogations. This is a controversial practice, but it has been upheld by the Supreme Court. There are some...
Michigan Executive Directives Update December 1 2023
What is an Executive Directive? Similar to executive orders, executive directives are issued by the Governor to establish basic internal policy or procedure for the executive branch of state government, assure the faithful execution of law, and to supervise state...
Michigan Executive Orders Update December 1 2023
What is an Executive Order? The Michigan Constitution of 1963 vests the executive power of the state in the Governor. That power can be exercised formally by executive order. Executive orders may reorganize agencies within the executive branch of state government,...
Effects of marijuana on neurophysiological signals of working and episodic memory
Summary of this paper Introduction Such scalprecorded ERP differences are temporally associated with changes in synaptic and neuronal activity recorded directly from the hippocampus and other MTL structures (Smith et al. 1986;Heit et al. 1988), and are eliminated by...
Whitmer signs bill stripping gun rights for non-violent offenders
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proudly showcases a crucial bipartisan gun violence bill package that she recently signed into law, underscoring her unwavering dedication to safeguarding the lives of those vulnerable to domestic violence. This essential measure reflects the...
Ohio Bill Introduced to Allow Each City to Ban Marijuana
With just over a week until Ohio’s voter-approved marijuana legalization law takes effect, a lawmaker has introduced a bill that would allow individual municipalities to locally ban the use and home cultivation of cannabis in their jurisdictions. The legislation aims...
