“ I don’t support issuing driver’s licenses to people who are undocumented,” Baker reportedly said on the Boston Herald’s Friday radio show days after he was elected in a blue state that overwhelmingly voted for President Barack Obama twice. According to the Herald, Massachusetts recently “received a waiver from the Federal Real ID act, which ramps up the qualifications to receive a state driver’s license to prevent terrorists from using easily obtained IDs to enter federal buildings or get on planes.” The Homeland Security Department said that Massachusetts would “have the ability” to issue “special driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants as part of its plan to comply with a tougher federal ID law” under Patrick’s proposal. In other words, Massachusetts, like California, will be allowed to issue “‘non-compliant’ driver’s licenses that look different from ones held by legal citizens and cannot be used to board planes or give access to federal buildings.” During his gubernatorial campaign against Martha Coakley, Baker said he opposed the Patrick administration’s legislation to allow the state to issue licenses to illegal immigrants by 2017. His Democrat opponent Coakley supported it. Local politicians in Massachusetts criticized the Patrick administration for being out of touch with Main Street. Last week in Oregon, another blue state, voters resoundingly rejected a ballot initiative to allow the state to grant driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. More votes were cast against driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants (960,377) in Oregon than for its Democrat governor (712, 654 votes for Gov. John Kitzhaber) or senator (792, 298 for Democrat Sen. Jeff Merkley ( D- OR).
You must have a valid driver’s license to drive in the U. S. The Massachusetts Driver’s License is also used as the primary method of identification within the U. S. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles ( RMV) is responsible for all Massachusetts Driver's Licenses and Driving Permits. Using Your Driver's License from Your Home Country The International Convention on Road Traffic of 1949 allows visitors on non-immigrant visas, whose home countries are signatories of the convention, to drive up to one year from the date of entry with a driver’s license that has been issued by their home country. A list of recognized countries is on the last page of this PDF document. After one year, all non-immigrant visa holders must obtain a Massachusetts Driver’s License in order to drive legally in the U. S., even if they do not own a car. Although a visitor may drive in Massachusetts for up to one year with a license from his/her home country, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles recommends that you obtain a Massachusetts Driver’s License if you intend to stay for any length of time on any visa classification other than a B-1/ B-2 ( Business/ Tourist). An International Driving Permit/ License is not recognized in Massachusetts, except to act as a translation of a driver's license from your home country. How To Obtain a Massachusetts Driver’s License Fulfill Your Social Security Number Requirement Obtain a Social Security Number ( SSN). If you are not eligible for a Social Security Number, you must apply for a Social Security Number and obtain a “denial letter” from the Social Security Administration explaining that your request for a Social Security Number was denied. After you complete your Social Security Number requirement, proceed with the 3 phases of a Massachusetts Driver's License application. Complete the 3 Phases of the Massachusetts Driver’s License.
BOSTON - Immigrant and union groups rallied at the Statehouse on Thursday in support of two bills that would help illegal immigrants. One bill would let illegal immigrants apply for driver's licenses. The other would prevent local police officers from arresting or holding people for federal immigration violations. Federal law should be enforced by the federal government, not state and local police, said State Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D- Acton, who sponsored the so-called Trust Act. The renewed lobbying effort indicates that illegal immigration could once again become a hot button issue in the state Legislature. Although versions of the same bills have been introduced before, they have never become law. The law enforcement bill, called the Trust Act, passed the Legislature's Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security last session, but never made it further than that. The Joint Committee on Transportation rejected a bill giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. The immigrant rights groups say the bills are a matter of public safety. Franklin Soults, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, said illegal immigrants are currently driving to take their kids to the doctor or to buy groceries. But because they have no license or insurance, there are problems if they get into accidents. Allowing illegal immigrants to apply for driver's licenses would reduce the market for fake licenses, allow the police to more quickly identify drivers and reduce the risk of flight from an accident, bill supporters say. It's safer for everyone if licenses are available to everyone, and there not be this extraneous check (of immigration status Soults said. Soults called denying driver's licenses to illegal immigrants a punitive measure that affects not just immigrants' safety but our own safety. Ten states, including Connecticut and Vermont.
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