Advocates For Immigrants Push For Driver’s Licenses

Advocates for immigrants in Massachusetts are set to gather at the State House in Boston to ask lawmakers to back a bill that would allow all state residents to apply for a driver's license, regardless of their immigration status.

State law currently requires immigrants seeking a driver's license to prove that they are in the country legally. Immigrant advocates say the measure would ensure that drivers on state roads are trained, licensed and insured.

The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition has worked with two Democratic lawmakers to introduce the Safe Driving Bill to address the fact that unlicensed immigrants need to drive children to school and relatives to hospitals.

Advocates will gather Tuesday at the State House to press lawmakers to back the bill introduced by Senator Patricia Jehlen of Somerville and Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield.