Driving Towards Justice: Vermont Migrant Rights Campaign Wins Licenses

The Vermont Senate voted in last March to establish a committee to introduce new legislation for Vermont residents to access state issued ID and Drivers' Licenses regardless of immigration status. Here is the story of how Vermont's migrant justice movement won this historic victory.

A bill churning through the Vermont Statehouse for the last few months seeks to reaffirm Vermont's courageous commitment to civil rights, especially where the federal government has proven intransigent and ineffective. Originally conceived as a 'Vermont Migrant Guest Worker Program,' Senate bill S-238 is meant to begin addressing the ongoing plight faced by the estimated 1,500 migrant farm workers living and working throughout Vermont with limited protections or access to basic services. S-238 will confront these challenges by making state issued ID and drivers' licenses available to everyone, regardless of immigration status.

Today, the Vermont Senate voted to establish a committee to introduce S-238. Next up for the law is a 3rd and final reading and vote in the Senate on Tuesday, which it is expected to pass easily after a unanimous vote today, and then its over to the House.

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