Time is running out for Lansing Democrats to make good on their promise to provide driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.

“Folks in the gallery had a small demonstration at the start of the session, tossing papers that encourage lawmakers (in Spanish and English) to resist voting on any legislation until a law providing drivers licenses for all is passed,” Beth LeBlanc, reporter for The Detroit News, posted to X on Tuesday.

Folks in the gallery had a small demonstration at the start of session, tossing papers that encourage lawmakers (in Spanish and English) to resist voting on any legislation until a law providing drivers licenses for all is passed. pic.twitter.com/4cnRitdqj0

— Beth LeBlanc (@DNBethLeBlanc) November 12, 2024

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The post included a video of the stunt, with the papers raining down like confetti on lawmakers from the gallery above.

“Hundreds of these were thrown down upon legislators on the Michigan House floor,” Rep. Brad Paquette, R-Niles, wrote in another X post that included an image of a mini flyer that read “Sin Licencias NO HAY VOTO.”

“It says, ‘Without licenses, there is no vote,’” Paquette wrote. “I absolutely agree. I would also add that any person here illegally who disrupts legislative proceedings should be the first in line to be deported.”

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Tuesday’s protest was only the latest in a number of demonstrations at the capitol since Democrats unveiled a Drive SAFE bill package in both chambers in February 2023 to allow illegal immigrants in Michigan to obtain driver’s licenses.

Between 1995 and 2008, an opinion from Democratic Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelley allowed illegal immigrants to obtain licenses, but Republican Attorney General Mike Cox reversed that guidance.

In the years since, illegal immigrants have worked with Democratic activists to elect lawmakers who they believed would change the law. Last year, Forge Organizing credited their efforts for moving the state House to a one-seat majority for Democrats for the first time in four decades.

“The electoral organizing of undocumented Michiganders tipped the scale of power in the 38^th and 103^rd districts, providing Democrats with a slim, one-seat majority in the House, flipping the seats that flipped the legislature,” according to the nonprofit.

Key Democrats promised during multiple press conferences and rallies to push through the Drive SAFE legislation, but have not yet followed through, although Gov. Gretchen Whitmer assured EL CENTRAL in October, during National Hispanic Heritage Month, the bills are a top priority this session.

“I do think that the drive safe bill is one that is working its way through the legislature,” Whitmer said. “It is really, I believe, crucial that people have the ability to access identification from the state.

“And so this is something that as the legislature returns this fall, I anticipate it could be on the list of actions that they mat take before the end of the year,” Whitmer said.

The Michigan League of Public Policy estimates the legislation, if passed and signed into law, could open the door to 55,000 more people obtaining driver’s licenses in the first three years after it’s approved.

Whitmer argued as Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign co-chair that driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants is one of several “really important” benefits that “should be a part of any vision of the country” during an interview with Meet the Press in August.

Other “really important” benefits include free tuition at public universities, and access to free health care, she said.

“The spirit of those things, I think, should be part of any vision of the country,” Whitmer said.

Of course, Republican President-elect Donald Trump prevailed in the presidential election last week, and Republicans flipped control of the Michigan House, ending Democrats’ government trifecta in the Great Lakes State.

And that means all eyes are now on Michigan Democrats in a lame duck session, with groups like the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center making a last-ditch effort for licenses before Republicans take over in January.

“MIRC joined Strangers No Longer in Lansing to let lawmakers know how critical the #DriveSAFE bills are for our communities,” MIRC posted to X on Tuesday, along with a link to Google document detailing how they can pressure lawmakers to take action, including a phone script, contact numbers, and form emails.

MIRC, however, is fully aware of what’s to come.

Other MIRC X posts over the last week show the nonprofit is expanding its legal team “as we gear up for challenges in the next federal administration.”

“Check out MIRC’s resources to prepare your family for immigration enforcement,” another read.

An advocacy group for illegal migrants called “We the People” previously took credit for delivering the Democrats a House majority and expected drivers licenses in return.