“Governor Baker and the members of the House
Republican Caucus have raised legitimate concerns about the Work and Family
Mobility Act, which will give individuals access to a state driver’s license without
having to provide proof of lawful presence. The Registry of Motor Vehicles is
not adequately equipped to determine the validity of the alternative
documentation allowed under this legislation to verify the true identity of
individuals applying for a license, which is problematic given that a driver’s
license can open the door to many things. The bill lacks basic safeguards and
provides no real guarantees that it will actually enhance public safety as its
proponents have claimed. Furthermore, it is grossly unfair for the state to be
issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented individuals that are identical and
indistinguishable from the licenses provided to those who have followed the law
to secure lawful presence or citizenship. This is bad public policy, and I am
disappointed that the House chose to ignore these concerns and override the
Governor’s veto.”
