Martha’s Vineyard Social Justice Leadership Foundation (MVSJLF) wholeheartedly supports HD.448/SD.273, an act under the umbrella of work and family mobility.

Many undocumented immigrants are driving in Massachusetts without a driver’s license who aren’t insured or registered. The purpose of state legislation bill HD.448/SD.273 is to enable all qualified Massachusetts residents, irrespective of immigration status, to apply for a standard license or identification card while keeping our Commonwealth in full compliance with federal law. Just two forms of identification are needed to apply, including at least one with a photograph and one with a birth date. No one can get a driver’s license without passing a basic driver skills test. Also, the bill’s explicit language provides that the information that undocumented immigrants provide to the registrar may not be used against them for purposes of enforcing immigration laws. 

MVSJLF strongly believes that the proposed legislation is a commonsense approach for those who want to be law-abiding. It is a pragmatic way to give undocumented immigrants a better quality of life while Congress struggles with immigration reform. We, therefore, urge you to support this bill.

Laurie Perry

Edgartown

The writer is president of the Martha’s Vineyard Social Justice Leadership Foundation.