“Immigrants come here for the promise of freedom and opportunity, and they contribute to the culture, economy, and community of our state. They are bold, brave, and hard working; and they are exactly the Americans we need,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “All Minnesotans deserve to be able to work, live and take care of their families. Ensuring everyone has access to driver’s licenses will improve public safety for everyone, grow the state economy, and treat our immigrant communities with dignity and respect.”
“Denying immigrants the right to a driver’s license means we’re denying people living in our communities access to jobs and opportunity, endangering public safety, and criminalizing families’ efforts to participate in civic life,” added state Representative Aisha Gomez (DFL – Minneapolis). “That’s destructive for families, for businesses, and for Minnesota. It’s time to make our roads safer, and to reject a politics that would divide people living side by side as neighbors.”
All Minnesotans used to be able to get a driver’s license regardless of immigration status, until the rule was changed in 2003, making it impossible for undocumented immigrants to obtain a legal driver’s license.
The bill outlines the types of primary and secondary documents that would be accepted in order to obtain the ID (referred to as a “noncompliant license or identification card”). All issued IDs and driver’s licenses of this type would be labeled “not for voting.” The bill also provides direction to the Secretary of State for training of county auditors and local election judges regarding these IDs so they would not be accepted for purposes of voter registration.
HF 1500 prohibits the Department of Public Safety and driver’s license agents from sharing data on individuals who have these IDs with other entities, including federal agencies. It also prohibits discriminating against a person that applies for, was denied, was issued, or presents a noncompliant driver’s license or ID.
“To me, passing this bill would mean I would be able to wake up calm and at peace for my family, neighbors and the community in which we live. It would mean coming home and being able to kiss and hug our children, dads, uncles, brothers, sisters, wife, husband, and our grandparents,” said Jovita Morales with the Minnesota Immigration Movement. “We know that in our society that the happiness and tranquility of our families is tied to being able to drive a car and go to work and take our children to the doctor, to school, to wash the laundry, all while having the security of returning home and embracing our families. I’m excited to be here today to make this a reality for families across Minnesota.”
“This past winter, I saw some of my coworkers walking in the snow to the plant for work,” said Angeline Roberts, who works at JBS, a pork processing plant in Worthington. “We had minus 50 degree wind chills this winter plus record snowfall. Our plant is on the edge of town. No one should have to put their life at risk to brave the elements because of lack of access to a driver’s license. Just like I want to be safe while at work, I want to be safe going to work. And I want that for my coworkers and my community. Providing driver’s license access for all is the right choice for Minnesota.”
“Asian Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing undocumented population in the US. Our community needs driver’s licenses to drive for leisure, to pick up kids from school, and to take our elders to doctor’s appointments,” added Terri Thao, community leader and Program Director at Nexus Community Partners. “When we buy cars and insurance, we contribute to the Minnesota economy. Having driver’s licenses restored to undocumented immigrants is a moral and economic imperative.”
The Freedom to Drive MN coalition is a statewide coalition of non-profit organizations, unions, immigrants’ rights advocates, community-based groups and collectives, faith-based organizations, workers’ rights advocates and businesses led by the Multiracial Coalition on Immigration.