Note: This article was printed by the Boston Herald on April 26, 2005

For immediate release: Contact: Anne Poulos
April 11, 2005 Phone: 617-722-2692

REPRESENATATIVE TIMOTHY J. TOOMEY JR.
26th Middlesex District- SOMERVILLE - CAMBRIDGE
SENATOR DIANNE WILKERSON
2nd Suffolk- BOSTON

America has long prided itself with being a land where immigrants come to seek a better life for themselves and their families. Yet a broken immigration system means that too many have no way to apply for green cards and citizenship despite a strong desire to do so. Nevertheless, these immigrants make significant contributions to the prosperity of Massachusetts by living, working, and paying taxes here.

The inability of undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses is not only a hardship for immigrant communities, but also has a negative impact on the public safety of all state residents. It was with this in mind that we have become co-sponsors of an act increasing the Eligibility for Licenses to Operate Motor Vehicles, Senate Bill 1974 and House Bill 2129, which will guarantee that all qualified state residents can apply for a driver’s license regardless of immigration status. This will improve public safety for all those who share the Commonwealth’s roads by making sure that every driver is insured as well as tested and educated on roadway safety. This education is crucial, given that a recent AAA study showed one in five drivers in fatal crashes is unlicensed. In the year since New Mexico became the 11th state that does not require legal residency to obtain licenses, state officials say the percentage of uninsured drivers has been cut by a third.

This legislation will also aid law-enforcement agencies, both by creating a greater level of trust between immigrants and police officers, and by ensuring that many Massachusetts residents will, for the first time, have their name and address entered in a state database. A police officer is at a disadvantage if he stops an unlicensed immigrant for a motor vehicle infraction and is confronted with a foreign license that he is unable to verify.

In addition to contributing to public safety, the bill will lead to lower insurance rates for all drivers in Massachusetts by allowing greater numbers of residents to purchase insurance and therefore lowering the number of accidents involving drivers who lack insurance. Other states that have adopted similar changes to their driving laws have seen lower insurance rates and fewer hit-and-run accidents.

Despite the demonstrable benefits of this bill, many pundits cannot resist the temptation to distort the policy debate by playing on our post-9/11 fears. Vague allegations that granting driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants will compromise national security charge the debate with emotion, but have little basis in fact. Better intelligence will prevent terrorist attacks, denying licenses to immigrants will not.

A driver’s license is not required to board an airplane; a passport issued by a passenger’s home country is acceptable identification at all airports. In the specific case of the 9/11 attacks, one hijacker used his passport to board the plane and the other hijackers had legal immigration status and used licenses they had obtained under the current laws. Therefore, regulations that bar undocumented immigrants from getting driver’s licenses would have had no effect on the events of the day. In fact, law enforcement officials used the terrorists’ driver’s licenses to identify and trace their actions prior to that tragic day.

There is no question that we need to improve national security, but preventing immigrants from acquiring licenses is not an effective means. A recent statement on the issue by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission makes it clear that restrictions on driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants would not have prevented the events of September 11, 2001. National security experts like Margaret Stock, an associate professor of national security law at the United States Military Academy at West Point, contend that, “It's actually harmful to national security to deny licenses to people on the basis of immigration status.”

It is clear that including all immigrants in our driver’s licensing system will improve road safety, enhance national security, and recognize immigrants as an important part of our communities. It is cynical and dangerous for those who espouse an anti-immigrant agenda to use illegitimate security concerns to sway the policy debate. We prefer to advocate for sound public policy, safety on our roads, and equity, rather than fall victim to unfounded fears that only lead to division and mistrust within our communities.