Michigan House rejects driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants

House Republicans forced a vote on and defeated a proposed law to allow undocumented immigrants in Michigan to obtain driver’s licenses.

Six Democrats joined with Republican representatives in the 39-64 vote against the bill on March 20, marking yet another failed bid for the long-sought protections.

State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, said Michigan voters last fall made clear their stance on immigration issues by electing President Donald Trump and flipping the state House to Republican control.

“Having a driver’s license in our state is a privilege. You can’t illegally cross our border and break our laws and then expect to receive the same privileges afforded to U.S. citizens,” Cavitt said. “This radical Democrat driver’s license plan was so unpopular last year that it couldn’t even get a vote during a Democrat trifecta. Yet, either out of dedication to far-left activism or devotion to bad policy ideas, Democrats made the mistake of trying this again.”

Although Democrats controlled both legislative chambers and the governorship last year, then-House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, never allowed a vote on a similar bill affording undocumented residents the opportunity to obtain a driver’s license.

The bill last year lacked a few key Democratic votes needed to pass, according to former state Rep. Rachel Hood, D-Grand Rapids.

It was Tate who reintroduced the bill this session. Tate said House Republicans in forcing the vote used the bill as “political theater” to divide people rather than making Michiganders’ lives better.

“The Book of Matthew talks about how are we taking care of the least of these,” Tate told his colleagues before the vote. ”How are we taking care of Michigan residents as a whole in this chamber? Madam speaker, I wanted to speak on the merits of this but unfortunately, as a former speaker speaking to the current speaker, this is nothing but a political ploy.”

Near the conclusion of his speech, Tate said instead of forcing the vote, the chamber should be talking about economics and taking care of Michigan residents. His microphone was cut off, but he continued to yell that the chamber should be talking about cuts to veterans services and healthcare.

The Democrats who joined Republicans in defeating the bill are state Reps. Jasper Martus, D-Flushing, Denise Mentzer, D-Mount Clemens, Reggie Miller, D-Van Buren Township, Amos O’Neal, D-Saginaw, Angela Witwer, D-Delta Township, and Mai Xiong, D-Warren.

Advocates and supporting lawmakers last year said letting immigrants without legal documentation obtain a driver’s license would allow them to travel safely to work or the grocery store or take their children to school without fear of being unnecessarily detained or deported.

Advocates previously told MLive they had little hope similar bills would pass in the Republican-controlled House.

House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, has long been opposed to the proposal, claiming last year that it jeopardizes public safety and “incentivizes criminal invaders.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, both Democrats, have previously backed similar bills. Similar legislation has been introduced every session since 2016.

Before 2008, Michigan was one of a handful of states that issued driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. The legislature passed a law banning the practice following an opinion issued by former Attorney General Mike Cox, a Republican.

Advocates say 20 states and Washington, D.C. currently allow undocumented immigrants to receive driver’s licenses.

The forced vote on the bill comes amid the continued crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration.