Undocumented immigrants make appointments at the RMV to apply for Massachusetts driver’s licenses

REVERE – Starting July 1, undocumented immigrants living in Massachusetts will be able to apply for driver’s licenses.

Raúl Averdano, a 74-year-old undocumented Colombian immigrant, helps drive people to the market and food pantry, and does so, he admits, without a legal driver’s license.

“Not having it is the critical issue. Having him is a relief and he is finally going to be able to do things legally,” she said through an interpreter.

Now he’s getting help booking an appointment online with the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) at La Collaborativa in Chelsea, one of the thousands of undocumented immigrants who can file an application with the Labor and Family Mobility Law that will go into effect on 1st of July.

Mauricio Lopera, a 30-year-old Colombian immigrant and construction worker, said it’s also critical.

“He needs to be able to go from one place to another, that is his livelihood,” said an interpreter. “And another is to be able to reduce risk, so if you’re driving you’re stressed.” Fearing deportation, he said, if he ever gets caught admitting he, too, has been driving illegally.

The RMV anticipates 1,000 more customers a day at its locations in the first six months alone and insisted it has been ramping up to meet the influx with extended hours and staff.

“We are still in the process of hiring more and have more hiring targets for the month of July. As we meet those targets, we will continue to add more appointments,” said RMV’s Colleen Ogilvie. There are already driver manuals written in 15 languages, and the RMV is committed to having interpreters ready. It is logistical for the state and also for the applicants, who need proof of identification, birth and residence in Massachusetts.

Advocates who have pushed for this law for 20 years believe it is about safety that has already been proven in other states.

“The number of hit-and-run accidents has gone down because people feel safe knowing that, well, now I have this driver’s license that won’t put me at risk and I don’t want to put others at risk, too.” said Chrystel Murrieta Ruiz, co-chair of Driving Families Forward.

Lopera said it was about time and it benefits what he says are working immigrant communities.

“He knows that in this state there are jobs and opportunities everywhere that they can’t get if they trust their feet,” said an interpreter.

Appointments begin July 3, and the RMV said some locations in the state are already booked through the end of July.