Senate votes down driver's license for the undocumented

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PROVIDENCE — A bill sponsored by Sen. Frank Ciccone (D-District 7, North Providence), and supported by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, the diocese’s Office of Emergency Services and the Rhode Island Catholic Conference that would have allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses was voted down 6-4 on June 15.

The bill was also supported by Gov. Gina Raimondo, the Registry of Motor Vehicles and the State Police.

Ciccone said that while he commended the Senate for finally bringing his bill to a vote after four years, he is deeply disappointed that a state which prides itself on being progressive passed up an opportunity to solve a burgeoning problem.

“It’s unfortunate that a lot of citizens in this state don’t recognize the fact that we have immigrants that came here and they are here,” Ciccone said in an interview with Rhode Island Catholic. “Some of them are documented and some of them are not.”

His bill was designed to assist these immigrants by allowing them to earn a living by transporting themselves to and from jobs, as well as their children to and from school.

In order to be granted a license, undocumented drivers would have to purchase auto insurance, pay taxes on their wages and register with immigration authorities.

With no perceived downside to the legislation, Ciccone told his peers that he simply would no longer accept having his bill held for further study once again.

“We’ve studied it enough,” said Ciccone, frustrated at trying hard to provide a workable solution to a growing problem only to have it voted down.

“The way the bill was crafted, the undocumented would have to meet a stringent standard and also attest that they’ve applied for immigration,” he said.

“The bill went pretty far to protect everyone in the state. The license cannot be used for identification purposes, and not for voting. I think it’s legally and morally unjustifiable.”

Last year, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin offered a statement of his support for Ciccone’s bill during his attempt to pass the legislation then.

“It seems a rather practical approach that will obtain information about individuals who are already driving in our state,” Bishop Tobin said. “Additionally, in the long run, it will promote public safety. It is common sense legislation that will do much more good than harm.”

The bishop also called to mind Pope Francis’ own words in support for immigrants and the pontiff’s own personal history as the son of an immigrant family.

“I am certain that, as so often in the past, these immigrants will enrich America and its Church,” the Holy Father said.

The Very Rev. Bernard Healey, director of the R.I. Catholic Conference, testified on behalf of the bill.

He spoke of how the Catholic Church supports the welcoming of migrants and refugees, noting how they have made a positive impact in Rhode Island and across the nation.

He also addressed the need for a nation to be able to regulate its borders and to control immigration.

“These controls, however, should always be influenced by a sense of justice and mercy,” he testified. “It is always important to remember that the United States was largely founded by immigrants who fled their country of origin seeking freedom, economic security and a better way of life.”

James Jahnz, Emergency Services coordinator for the Diocese of Providence, said it imperative that this legislation be reintroduced and passed in the next session to allow the many undocumented among us to provide for their families through their hard work.

“We remain in support of the proposal to allow for special, limited driver’s licenses for the undocumented,” Jahnz said. “Until the limited licenses are allowed there will be workers that are restricted in how they can provide for their families. Practically, the proposal makes the roads safer for all.”