A vote for public safety and dignity

The Recorder, May 4, 2022.

Letter to the Editor:

This Thursday, every state senator in Massachusetts will have the opportunity to say yes to public safety, fairness, and dignity by voting in favor of the Work and Family Mobility Act. By voting “yes,” the Senate will move us one step closer to joining 16 states and D.C. in giving undocumented residents the simple right to apply for a driver’s license.

The more people know about the bill, the more likely they are to support it.

Yes, it does allow people with documentation from their home country, such as a birth certificate or passport, to take the test to get a driver’s license. No, it does not allow a person with a driver’s license to vote or use it for identification purposes when traveling (i.e., it is not Real ID-compliant).

Why do an overwhelming majority of district attorneys and county sheriffs support the bill? Because it serves public safety. When everyone who drives is trained and tested on the rules of the road — and insured — we are all safer.

From CISA’s standpoint, we know that many undocumented people work on local farms — growing food that feeds all of us. The right to obtain a driver’s license is a small change with enormous positive impacts, enabling them to drive safely to their jobs, raise their children, and live their lives without daily fear.

Please contact your state senator now and ask them to vote yes on the Work and Family Mobility Act on Thursday!

Philip Korman
Executive Director, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)