Tom Keyes for State Senate

For Immediate Release

April 4, 2012

Sandwich—Today Tom Keyes, Republican candidate for State Senate in the Plymouth & Barnstable District, pledged to stop drivers licenses for illegal immigrants.

“With over 220,000 illegal immigrants in the state of Massachusetts, I can understand how an illegal immigrant might slip through the cracks in obtaining a driver’s license.  What I cannot begin to understand is how the Registry of Motor Vehicles would give back a license to an illegal immigrant when that person’s alien status has been splashed on the front page of newspapers.  How does that happen?” asked Keyes.  “Clearly we have a systemic problem at the Registry.  Why hasn’t the leadership of the State House said one word about this?” 

Onyango Obama was arrested several months ago for drunk driving and it was revealed at that time he was an illegal immigrant who was ordered to be deported in 1992.  Last week at Framingham District Court he plead guilty to drunk driving.  Since the plea, the Registry has decided to reinstate a ‘Cinderella’s license’ to allow him to drive to work.  

“I completely object to Onyango getting a license.  First, he is a drunk driver.  Legal or not he should not have been given back his license so quickly after pleading guilty.  How many stories have we seen of people getting killed by drunk drivers who have been caught repeatedly?  Second, he is an illegal immigrant.  If he has a license then he can register to vote.  This is wrong and it needs to be corrected,” said Keyes.

When elected, Keyes will file legislation to require U.S. citizenship in order to get a Massachusetts driver’s license.

“It was just 19 months ago when Matthew Denice was tragically killed by an illegal immigrant who was a drunk driver.  We are lucky there was no tragedy surrounding Onyango’s arrest, but by not revoking his license completely the registry is endangering people on our roads,” added Keyes.

Keyes strongly believes that the people of the Plymouth and Barnstable district need a State Senator who will be consistent on the issue of illegal immigration.  Two years ago it was revealed in a video that Senator Therese Murray believes everyone has a right to come to our country even if they are illegal.  Since then she has tried to walk back from that statement by claiming she supports Secure Communities.  Yet as the Senate President she has not passed legislation forcing the Governor to implement it.  

The Center for Immigration Studies calculates that Massachusetts has 220,000 illegal aliens residing here.  

“We need a Senator who will stand up for our legal residents and our laws.  She is wrong.  Everyone does not have the right to be a citizen,” said Keyes.  “I am for enforcing our laws and our borders.”

Keyes, 45, has served on the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates and as a Sandwich Selectman.  He has also served on numerous boards and committees including: Water Quality Review Committee, Sandwich Economic Development Committee as liaison of the Board of Selectmen , Cemetery Commission, Assembly of Delegates Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, the 21st Century Taskforce to review the Cape Cod Commission and draft operational changes to the County Commissioners, President of the Cape Cod Selectmen and Councilors’ Association and Board of Directors, and member of the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Selectmen and Councilors’ Association.

Keyes founded his private practice, Keyes Quality Systems in 1998, providing consulting and contract services in management, ethics and compliance.  He and his wife, Melissa have two daughters, Madelynn, and Julia.

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Paid for by the Committee to Elect Tom Keyes, PO Box 87, Sandwich, MA 02563