We’re pleased to feature this blog from League President & CEO Monique Stanton and Tom Hickson, Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy at the Michigan Catholic Conference. A version of this column originally appeared in The Alpena News.
Imagine trying to go about your day without being able to legally drive a vehicle. How would you get to work? How would you take your kids to school or to their child care provider? How would you get to doctor’s appointments? How would you travel to and from the grocery store or pharmacy to pick up basic essentials?
Since 2008, this has been the reality for approximately 100,000 residents of legal driving age in our state who had the courage to immigrate to Michigan and make it their home, but currently don’t have the documentation to prove their legal presence here. They are our neighbors, our friends, our local business owners and our frontline workers. They are an integral part of what makes Michigan a great place to live and, yet, the right to obtain a driver’s license was taken away from them 15 years ago.
We here at the Michigan Catholic Conference and Michigan League for Public Policy, along with our other partners on the Drive Michigan Forward coalition, have been advocating for the restoration of driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants for many years. The fact of the matter is that there are many undocumented immigrants who are living, working and raising families across every county in Michigan. Reinstating driver’s licenses for these Michiganders is an issue of human dignity. It would allow them to be tested to drive, to insure their vehicles and give them the freedom and security to more fully engage in their communities and the state economy, while also completing essential daily tasks without fear.
Undocumented immigrants in Michigan hold $2.5 billion in spending power, and that economic impact would be significantly expanded by improving these residents’ ability to travel in our state. Additionally, both job seekers and employers would benefit from the restoration of driver’s licenses for all, as job seekers would be able to safely and legally travel longer distances for better, higher-paying jobs, while employers would see larger candidate pools for job openings. This is especially important today, as our job market continues to struggle.
The economic benefits wouldn’t stop there, though. By allowing all Michigan immigrants, regardless of immigration status, to obtain driver’s licenses, the League projects that 55,000 additional Michiganders would apply for a driver’s license over the course of three years, leading to tens of thousands of new vehicle purchases. These new licenses and vehicles would boost state revenue by an initial $13.5 million and contribute $12 million in recurring annual revenue after the first three years. Further, Michiganders could see their annual auto premiums go down by approximately $20 annually as a result of more insured drivers out on the road, and, with tens of thousands more Michigan drivers becoming insured and passing driver’s tests, roads would be safer and accidents would be resolved more quickly.
These are not just numbers, though. These are members of your community who have helped make Michigan a thriving place, and their impact would only be enhanced if they were able to legally drive.
It’s important to note that the Michigan Secretary of State has not only been involved in the drafting of the Drive SAFE (Safety, Access, Freedom and the Economy) bill package recently reintroduced in the Legislature, but also regularly verifies noncitizens’ foreign documents, so this process is not new. It’s also important to note that restoring a right to a driver’s license here in Michigan would not grant undocumented immigrants with the ability to vote, or otherwise obtain privileges of U.S. citizenship. It would, however, represent one small step that would increase safety on our roads, boost the state economy and, most importantly, treat people with the human dignity they deserve to provide for their families. It would also contribute to a climate of inclusivity at a time when Michigan’s population growth has been lagging, with too few immigrants choosing Michigan as a destination.
We applaud the Michigan lawmakers who reintroduced the Drive SAFE legislation this past April and we urge the state Legislature to make this the year that Michigan joins the growing number of states across our country – 19 in total in addition to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico – that have enacted laws to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver’s license.
We hope others will join us in supporting this commonsense and compassionate legislation. Visit drivemichiganforward.com to learn more and get involved.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Jacob Kaplan 
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Donald Stuckey 
Patrick Schaefer
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Amber Bellazaire joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a policy analyst in June of 2019. Her work primarily focuses on state policy and budgets affecting Michigan’s Medicaid programs. Previously, Amber worked at the National Conference of State Legislatures tracking legislation and research related to injury and violence prevention, adolescent health, and maternal and child health. She also brings with her two years of Americorps service. As a full time volunteer, Amber had the opportunity to tutor high school students in Chelsea, Massachusetts and address issues of healthcare access and food insecurity through in-person outreach in Seattle, Washington.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
