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There is legislation currently being considered in Massachusetts which would allow illegal aliens who are residing in Massachusetts to legally obtain driver’s licenses. This bill, Massachusetts House Bill 3285, is scheduled for a public hearing at the Statehouse on February 5th at 11:00 AM and the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition strongly supports the proposed legislation, which is known as the Safe Driving Bill.
If the legislation passes, Massachusetts will join 11 states other states, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C which allow residents to obtain valid driver’s licenses regardless of the resident’s immigration status. Currently illegal immigrants can obtain licenses in Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Puerto Rico, California, Washington State, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico to name a few states.
From a practical standpoint, many of these illegal immigrants are driving anyways and this bill would allow them to get valid licenses after undergoing written and road tests, to insure that they can drive safely. However, there are concerns regarding issuing licenses to those who may have suspensions, revocations, or long driving records in their home countries.
Currently, those without legal status in the United States are denied licenses in Massachusetts because the Mass. Registry requires driver’s license and learner’s permit applicants to provide a valid social security number or a denial letter issued by the U.S. Social Security Administration. Applicants who submit denial letters must prove their immigration status by presenting an I-94 Record of Arrival & Departure, a current non-U.S. Passport, and proof of the applicant’s visa status. If House Bill 3285 is enacted, the Registry of Motor Vehicles will not be able to deny a Massachusetts resident a driver’s license due to the lack of a social security number or legal immigration status.
Passage of the Mass. Safe Driver Act will reduce the number of license fraud cases in Massachusetts, as these cases are often the result of a person applying for a Mass. license with a fraudulent social security number.