Thread: Immigrants sue Maryland over driver's licenses

I don't recall seeing this posted last month:

Immigrants sue Maryland over driver's licenses

November 16, 2005

They may be illegal immigrants, but so far nobody’s stopping them from suing the State of Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration, and charging the agency with “discrimination� in denying them driver’s licenses or making it more difficult for them to get licenses.

The immigrants, 13 in all, charge that is wrong that they should show more proof of identity and residency than those who were born in the U.S. They also conplain that the MVA does not provide Spanish-language materials, interpreters or appointment verification mailings as they say is required by law when at least 3 percent of a state agency's population does not speak English.

'The MVA is in violation of their own law,' said Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA of Maryland, one of two agencies that filed the suit for the immigrants.

'Even if you don't have work authorization and Social Security in this country, you are entitled to have a driver's license in Maryland. You don't have to' be legal, he stated

A spokesman for MVA said he could not comment on the immigrants' claim that the MVA denies driver's licenses to foreign-born applicants.

The lawsuit comes several weeks after a new poll showed that 83 percent of Maryland voters favor legislation that would require most state and local government business to be conducted in English.

The poll conducted by nonpartisan Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies bolsters Maryland lawmakers including Delegate Patrick L. McDonough, Baltimore County Republican, seeking to make English the official state language.

CASA officials yesterday would not say whether any illegal aliens were represented in the lawsuit.

McDonough said yesterday that if the lawsuit forces MVA to provide Spanish-language materials to illegals, he will fight the ruling. 'I'm going to introduce legislation that would prohibit or knock off that ruling,' he said. 'Remember the courts are not lawmakers, the courts only interpret, and unfortunately, sometimes they think they're the legislators. We have the power to overrule that decision by the court.'

Maryland does not require that those who apply for a driver's license be legal U.S. residents. Virginia requires applicants -- U.S.- or foreign-born -- to provide proof of legal presence in the U.S. and two pieces of identification and proof of residency through a walk-in process.

Earlier this year, Congress passed the Real ID Act, which will create a national standard under which all states would be required to collect proof of legal residency before issuing a driver's license to any applicant.

http://www.usbc.org/

The immigrants, 13 in all, charge that is wrong that they should show more proof of identity and residency than those who were born in the U.S. They also conplain that the MVA does not provide Spanish-language materials, interpreters or appointment verification mailings as they say is required by law when at least 3 percent of a state agency's population does not speak English.

ICE, here's 13 more. Go get 'em boys!

Gee, why don't we post all traffic signs in Spanish to accomodate the lawbreakers

Originally Posted by steelerbabe

Gee, why don't we post all traffic signs in Spanish to accomodate the lawbreakers

Don't let Bush hear you say that or they will try and get it into law next week

I'm sure that is already on Bush's agenda. I just want to know when I can pick and choose the laws I want to follow.

Did you have to show your birth certificate and some other proof of who you are to get a drivers license? I did. Why should these people be any different, I ask you!