All immigrants to the state of Massachusetts can now obtain a driver’s license. The law passed by the local legislature over a year ago goes into effect this Monday, July 3.
Applicants are no longer required to provide proof of their immigration status. Massachusetts joins 18 other states and the District of Columbia in allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.
Previously, immigrants residing in Massachusetts had to provide at least one document issued by U.S. Immigration Services to be eligible for a driver’s license, which expired on the same date as the USCIS document.
This victory for Massachusetts immigrants is the result of a long struggle by community leaders and immigrant rights organizations.
Early on Monday morning, July 3, 2023, Pastor Dieufort Fleurissaint, renowned for his commitment to the undocumented, was spotted outside the Department of Traffic (DMV) office expressing his satisfaction.
“Today is the implementation day of the Family Mobility Act passed by the state of Massachusetts, allowing undocumented immigrants access to the standard driver’s license for five years. I’m here to celebrate this moment,” said the community leader in a live broadcast on his Facebook page.
The law, commonly known as the Family Mobility Act, was passed in June 2022 by the Massachusetts Congress. The Republican governor at the time, Charlie Becker, exercised his veto power, which was overridden by the Democrats.
The Republicans didn’t stop there. They managed to obtain the necessary number of signatures to force a referendum on the law, but without success.
Alongside Massachusetts, the following states – California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and the District of Columbia – issue a driver’s license if the applicant provides certain documents such as a foreign birth certificate, foreign passport or consular card, as well as proof of current residence in the state.