SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives is set to vote on and expected to pass HF 1500, the Driver’s Licenses for All legislation. The bill, authored by House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, has bipartisan support and would ensure all Minnesotans can obtain a driver’s license, regardless of their immigration status.
“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.” Continue reading “Minnesota House of Representatives expected to pass Driver’s Licenses for All legislation”