Protesters Camp Outside Spilka's Home To Support License Bill

ASHLAND, MA — A group of protesters pitched tents outside Senate President Karen Spilka's Ashland home on Tuesday in a bid to convince her to push a bill through the Legislature that would grant driver licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Activists from several groups — including major labor unions and Cosecha — have been holding demonstrations in Spilka's home district in recent weeks. They held a car parade in Framingham on July 9. The Work and Family Mobility Act needs to be passed before the end of the legislative session on July 31.

The bill has been added as an amendment to an economic development bill in the Legislature along with close to 500 other amendments.

The bill would allow undocumented people to get a Massachusetts drivers license, giving them the freedom to drive to work and school — and now drive-thru coronavirus testing. The licenses would also ensure that immigrants are taking road tests and that they have car insurance, advocates say.

Right now, Massachusetts has a two-tier drivers license system. One tier of licenses complies with the federal REAL ID act, the second tier does not. The licenses for undocumented immigrants would fall in the second tier. Fifteen states, including Connecticut and Vermont, grant licenses regardless of immigration status.

Demonstrators also protested outside of House Speaker Robert DeLeo's home in Winthrop on Tuesday. Members of the Cosecha group camped out for 11 days last week in front of the state Legislature.