Massachusetts benefits immigrants who entered the country illegally by allowing them to apply for a driver's license thanks to the enactment of the Work and Family Mobility Act (WFMA).
This July, Massachusetts eliminated the requirement of proof of legal presence to obtain a standard driver's license, so now its residents will be able to obtain the document regardless of their immigration status. According to the state's website, applicants are now only required to show proof of date of birth, ID, social security status and proof of Massachusetts residency in addition to passing a driving test, vision test and learner's permit.
According to Democratic Governor Maura Healey, this is a "benefit for public safety, for our economy, and for our immigrant residents who should be able to drive to work, school, or the grocery store without fear." However, critics of the legislation point out that this is actually another effort by Democrats to increase their voter rolls.
Massachusetts approves driver's licenses to illegal migrants, as border surge taxes state resources https://t.co/kH0GooOfPO
— Just the News (@JustTheNews) July 9, 2023
The director of the Heritage Foundation's Center for Immigration and Border Security and former Department of Homeland Security official, Lora Ries, explained to Just the News that giving illegal immigrants this benefit means facilitating their immigration status.
"This is about making it easier for illegal aliens to reside in the U.S. because a driver's license is a key document to other downstream benefits, from obtaining credit cards to even voting," she said.
Florida does not accept licenses from undocumented immigrants
In an effort to crack down on illegal immigration, Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida, announced that although other states are granting driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, in Florida they will not be accepted.
"Someone who is in our country illegally and has violated our laws should not possess a government-issued ID that allows them access to state-funded services and other privileges granted to legal residents," he explained.
