Michigan Democrats continue to ignore immigrant demands despite promises to pass the Drive Safe bills

As the immigrant community prepares for the threat of mass deportation coming from the incoming Trump Administration, the Democratic Party doesn’t appear to have kept their promise to pass the Drive Safe legislation to allow undocumented immigrants the opportunity to obtain a driver’s license. 

On Tuesday, the group We the People held a rally on the steps of the State Capitol in Lansing to once again demand that the State Legislature pass the Drive Safe bills. MLive reported on this action, which included comments from the affected community.

We the People, a coalition of civil society groups and Movimiento Cosecha have been pushing to get the Drive Safe bills passed for numerous years, especially since the beginning of 2023, when Democrats gain full control of the State Legislature. And despite the promises from Democrats that they would pass the Drive Safe bills, Democrats have not even held a hearing on the matter in the House or the Senate.

The MLive article also include an interesting comment from State Representative Rachel Hood (D), who has a few weeks before they end their term in office. The MLive reporter wrote that Rep. Hood, “has said there was previously enough support among Democrats to pass the bills in the House but a few members broke support after the election.”

One question we should be asking is why? Why have some Democrats broke support after the election. It would seem to this writer that during the Lame Duck session, while Democrats still have control, they could pass the Drive Safe bills and keep their promise to immigrants throughout the state. All of this sounds very similar to the Michigan Democratic Party’s failure to adopt 9 bills during the Lame Duck period, bills that would benefit renters. GRIID reported on this matter in a November 14th article entitled, The Rent is Too Damn High Coalition gives Michigan Democrats a 30 Day Notice on passing bills that would benefit tenants.

In that article I wrote: 

There were a few tenant activists that met with Rep. Kristian Grant (Grand Rapids), since she chairs the Housing Committee. One of the persons who met with Grant told me that she felt that it was only be possible to pass 2 or three of the nine bills that were introduced over the past 12 months. Part of the problem, according to Rep. Grant, was that there were several Democratic Party lawmakers that were not showing up legislative session, specifically the ones who lost in the November 5th Election.

During the information session at the church, one of the Lansing tenant organizers share a story about Rep. Joe Tate, who had called one of the Rental Property Owner Associations and apologize that these bills had been introduced, but that he did not intend to pass them. Lastly, there was also some discussion from other organizers, which stated that they had heard that Gov. Whitmer did not want to sign any of these bills into law, since it could negatively impact her ability to run for President in 2028.

The Democrat’s unwillingness to have a spine is infuriating to lots of people and especially to those most affected, like the immigrant community. Despite the Democratic Party’s lack of courage, Movimiento Cosecha is going to continue to fight for driver’s licenses. 

On Thursday, December 5th Movimiento Cosecha will be going to the Lansing State Capitol to continue to demand that the Democrats pass the Drive Safe bills during the Lame Duck session. Details of their action can be found at this Facebook event link.

If you are unable to come to Lansing with Movimiento Cosecha on Thursday, please contact your state officials to demand that they pass the Drive Safe bills, which will allow undocumented immigrants the opportunity to obtain driver’s license, which will put them at less risk of deportation. If you care about the well being of immigrants, then take action now!