Boston, (EFE) – Activists, representatives and senators from Massachusetts held a symbolic signing on Monday, June 13, of the Work and Family Mobility Act that will allow undocumented immigrants in that state to apply for driver's licenses.
The law, which is estimated to benefit around 250.000 immigrants, will come into force on July 1, 2023.
Democrats in the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives managed to pass the law last week, after override the veto of the governor, Republican Charlie Baker, who opposed signing the measure previously approved by two-thirds of both chambers.
We tell you what are the Requirements to process a driver's license for undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts starting July 1, 2023
Driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants: 20 years of struggle
With this law, promoted for 20 years by some 270 community organizations that in 2019 joined in a coalition led by the 32BJ Service Employees union and the Brazilian Workers Center, Massachusetts joins 16 other states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico, which already has legislation for the same purpose.
The president of the Chamber, Ron Mariano, participated in the symbolic signing; Senate President Karen Spilka; Representatives Christine Barber and Tricia Farley-Bouvier; Senators Brendan Crighton and Adam Gómez; and the vice president of the 32BJ SEIU union, Roxana Rivera, as well as the executive director of the Brazilian Workers Center, Lenita Reason.
Documents to prove identity
Once the law is in force, immigrants without legal status will be able to apply for licenses by presenting two documents that prove their identity.
The activist Laura Rótolo, of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who attended the symbolic signing, explained to EFE that starting in July 2023, immigrants will be able to request their license by presenting two documents:
- A valid foreign passport or consular registration
- A translated birth certificate
- A valid driver's license from another US state or another country
- Or a marriage or divorce certificate issued in the United States
Document Privacy
The only thing left to define is the regulations regarding the training of the officials who will manage the licenses and the privacy of these documents.
Rótelo added that it is advisable for immigrants interested in obtaining licenses to "gather" their documents, but that "Do not pay anyone" to manage the licenses yet because frauds have already been identified.. The process cannot begin until July of next year.
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