OPINION: Passage of Family Mobility Act Will Improve Thousands of Immigrants’ Lives

By Margareth Shepard

***

FRAMINGHAM – History will be made on May 5th as the Massachusetts Senate will bring the Family and Mobility Act to the floor for discussion for the first time after two decades of community advocacy.  

This common sense legislation will allow undocumented immigrants acess to driver’s training, licenses, and insurance. The lives of thousands of residents will be improved and the safety of our roads strengthened. This is a win win, and a landmark in the fight for immigrants’ rights, as well for their families’ dignity and  justice. 

I am proud of my 10 years of steadfast local and statewide work in this fight, and to have passed a local resolution affirming this bill at the Framingham City Council in 2020. 

[broadstreet zone=”59983″]

Among many State Representatives I would like to highlight the late Chris Walsh, the first member of the Joint Committee on Transportation to stand and vote in favor of this bill, and to Lenita Reason, the Brazilian Worker Center Executive Director and co-chair of the Driving Forward Coalition, for her tireless advocacy and negotiation skills.

As today Lenita was still working with 24 amendments against the passage of this legislation. 

Thank you Senator Spilka for the support, and to Framingham State Representatives Jack Lewis, Maria Duaime, Carmine Gentile and Danielle Gregoire for their favorable vote. 

***

Margareth Shepard is a former Framingham City Councilor for District 7. She is a candidate for the 6th Middlesex state representative seat. The primary election is in September 2022.

[broadstreet zone=”59982″]