As of this month, Massachusetts is now one of 19 states that authorize the issuance of driver’s licenses to eligible residents regardless of immigration status. The Work and Family Mobility Act, Bill H.4805, which went into effect on July 1st, 2023, removes the requirement to provide proof of lawful presence in the United States to obtain a license. Instead, applicants can provide documentation such as a foreign birth certificate, passport, or consular card in addition to evidence of current residency in the Commonwealth to apply for Learner’s Permits and take road tests at the RMV to obtain a license.
Massachusetts is home to approximately 210,000 unauthorized immigrants. Granting licenses to undocumented drivers helps to promote racial equity and integrates this vulnerable population into community life. According to the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, traffic stops are a primary method used by law enforcement to arrest, detain, and potentially deport immigrants. Hence, this new law will help to end the penalization of undocumented immigrants for driving to daily life activities such as work, school, and doctor appointments, and will increase equity in access to health and education.
The expansion of access to driver’s licenses benefits not only the undocumented immigrants who live in Massachusetts, but the overall population as well. The bill promises to make roads safer for all residents as the expansion will ensure that all drivers are trained, tested, and insured, reducing the number of fatal car and hit-and-run accidents – an impact previously reported from similar bills in California and Connecticut. In addition, expanding license access will enhance productivity and stimulate the economy. Newly licensed drivers will purchase cars and insurance, and will have greater mobility to travel to better job opportunities and grocery stores, increasing the state’s tax revenues and advancing local economies.
