Immigration issues unite area legislators

By Brian Benson/Daily News staff

The MetroWest Daily News

Posted Sep 26, 2011 @ 12:00 AM


A bipartisan, bicameral group of state lawmakers plans to unveil a bill today that seeks to address employment, unlicensed driving, housing and other issues related to illegal immigration.

State Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, state Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, state Rep. John Fernandes, D-Milford, and state Rep. George Peterson Jr., R-Grafton, filed bills in the House and Senate Friday that they plan to discuss at a State House press conference this afternoon, Moore said.

Fernandes said there has been an increase in the strain placed on schools, hospitals, courts and other institutions as a result of illegal immigration.

"We decided to file a comprehensive piece of legislation to try to collect some of these thoughts into a serious bill which will seek to address the issues," Fernandes said.

Moore, Fernandes and Peterson said the bipartisan sponsors of the bill will be helpful as it moves through the legislative process.

The bill comes about one month after Milford resident Matthew Denice died in a motor vehicle accident. Denice, 23, was killed when Nicolas D. Guaman, an illegal immigrant who was driving drunk, struck Denice's motorcycle, police say.

"I think certainly the incident with Matthew Denice's death has caused us to redouble our efforts and try to be more comprehensive in our approach," Moore said.

Fernandes said the legislators are trying to address issues under the state's control, not pre-empt the federal government's rights to enforce immigration laws.

Denice's death has sparked a call for illegal immigration reforms including adopting Secure Communities, a federal initiative designed to facilitate communication between federal immigration authorities and local police.

The bill would require the state Executive Office of Public Safety to report to lawmakers on actions it takes to assist with the deployment of Secure Communities, according to a summary provided by Moore.

It would require individuals or businesses seeking to register a vehicle to produce documentation such as a federal tax identification number, license or social security number. The bill would also strengthen penalties for people who drive without a license or knowingly allow someone else to drive their vehicle, according to the summary.

"It's a major concern," Peterson said of driving without a license. "As we move forward, I think we need to tighten up our rules and regulations to make sure anyone who can get (a license) is a legal resident in the commonwealth."

Current fines for driving without a license range from $100 to $1,000. The bill would create a $500 fine for a first offense, $500 to $1,000 fine and/or a 30-day jail term for a second offense, and $1,000 to $2,000 fine and/or a 60-day jail sentence for a third or subsequent offense. Police may require the suspect to forfeit his or her vehicle after the third offense.

In addition to illegal immigrants, "it's recognizing there are people who were born here, don't have a license and still continue to pose a danger to the public," Moore said.

The legislation also ensures that state-subsidized housing is reserved for legal Massachusetts residents and aims to help local building officials prevent multi-bedroom apartments from housing several families.

Employment provisions of the bill include establishing penalties for employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers and requiring companies seeking public contracts to participate in programs to verify the eligibility of their employees, according to the documents.

"I firmly believe that the source of the problem is employment," Fernandes said of illegal immigration. "If people can't work, they either won't come here or won't stay here."

www.metrowestdailynews.com