LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – “We must treat everyone with dignity. Everyone deserves safety and fairness. Let’s be a soft place to land. Committed to passing necessary protections in employment and housing for agricultural and domestic workers and to support ‘Drive Safe’!”

Those are the words posted on State Rep. Emily Divendorf’s social media account X just 17 days after 25-year-old Ruby Garcia from Grand Rapids was allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant. Divendorf represents the Lansing area.

What is the ‘Drive SAFE’ Legislation?

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The Drive SAFE (Safety, Access, Freedom, and the Economy) bill package is Democrat-sponsored Michigan legislation that aims to grant all Michigan residents access to state identification cards or driver’s licenses, regardless of their immigration status. The legislation includes House Bills 4410– 4412 and Senate Bills 265–268.

Divendorf made her comment about the legislation in response to another social media post by fellow Democrat State Senator Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) who recently said, “Immigrants are deserving of dignity. Without immigrants, our country’s agricultural sector, overall economy & healthcare system would crumble to a halt. P.S. Undocumented immigrants commit less crime than citizens.”

Rising crime by illegal immigrants in Michigan not a deterrent for Democrats’ legislative agenda.

Despite the rising reports of crimes being perpetrated by Illegal immigrants in Michigan – murders, child sexual assaults, breaking and entering, burglary and more – the Democrats are still on a path to reward illegal immigrants who are in the country and Michigan illegally by giving them driver’s licenses or state ID cards if they don’t drive.

This is on top of a plethora of resources that illegal immigrants are already afforded in the state – free education in Michigan schools for their children, resources at food pantries and homeless shelters, rental subsidies from the governor and more.

700,000 illegal immigrants estimated to be living in Michigan.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, nearly 700,000 individuals are residing in Michigan without legal status and those individuals could potentially qualify for driver’s licenses and state IDs.

When the Drive SAFE legislation was re-introduced in April of 2023, Senator Chang said, “I am proud to stand with the coalition to introduce these bills for the fifth and final time, because we are going to work extremely hard to finally make Drive SAFE bills a reality once and for all.”

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Chang continued to say, “Immigrants and others in Michigan are counting on us to restore access to driver’s licenses and state IDs and we will be a better state when we do so.”

Legislation would reverse 2008 law.

The proposal aims to overturn a 2008 Michigan law that restricted driver’s licenses and identification cards to individuals who could demonstrate they were “legally present” in the United States. Under the new proposal, applicants would have the option to provide alternative documents to establish residency, such as a home utility bill or rental agreement.

The House Democrats’ website says that this legislation would “restore access to driver’s licenses and state IDs, grow Michigan’s economy and improve road safety.”

According to Bridge Michigan and the website of the Michigan House Democrats, 19 other states, including Washington D.C. have passed similar laws.

In Kent County, where Ruby Garcia was murdered, 10 county commissioners have called for the passage of the legislation. In an open letter from Kent County Commissioner Ivan Diaz, he said, “We have individually seen its benefit to our constituents. We ask that you take these bills up for a public hearing and a floor vote.

Michigan Republicans oppose legislation.

Senate Republican Jim Runestad (R-White Lake), an opponent of the legislation says, “Democrats are taking radical steps to encourage illegal immigration. One of the key factors undocumented immigrants consider when they decide where they will take up residence is whether a state offers them driver’s licenses.”

He added, “Michigan taxpayers are already on the hook for more than $1.1 billion a year to provide benefits and services such as education, health care, and other assistance to undocumented immigrants and their dependents. The last thing our state needs is new incentives like HB 4410 to draw more of them here.”

Runestad continued to say, “As undocumented immigrants continue to arrive in record numbers, they will continue to seek out places that offer the most favorable conditions. Enacting a bill that grants them driver’s licenses amounts to an engraved invitation for them to settle in Michigan.

The legislation package has been in limbo given the current divide within the Michigan House, with a deadlock of 54-54. However, the upcoming special elections scheduled for April 16th will be pivotal, as the victors will sway party control of the Michigan House. If the Democrats regain control, it’s probable that we’ll see the passage of a slew of Democratic-leaning legislation including “Drive SAFE.”