Guest column: Time for action on Maryland's illegal immigration

http://www.hometownglenburnie.com/vault ... /05-06.HTM
By Don Dwyer
Maryland Gazette

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Let's first address the number of an estimated 12 million illegal aliens living in the United States today. This number is grossly misrepresented.
That number first appeared on the scene in the National Republican Party platform in 1984. It was noted in 1984 that there were an estimated 12 million illegal aliens already living in the United States and that nearly 1 million additional per year were entering illegally. If you do the math, we are likely around 35 million and growing rapidly.

In Maryland based on midyear 2006 Census Bureau figures, Illegal aliens have reached an all time high of 625,040 or 11.1 percent of the states total population. Remember, these people are here illegally!

Compare that with the fact that an estimated one-third of our state and local prison population's are illegal aliens and that the annual cost to keep an inmate is nearly $23,000. That is taxpayer dollars. Moreover, they receive full medical, dental and eye care all at taxpayer's expense while incarcerated.

In regards to the employment of illegal aliens, there are several problems. First, the honest employer gathers the documents, for example, the I 94 immigration forms, a Social Security Number, a green card or even a driver's license. He then hires the individual based on the information given.

Secondly, because the employer has the Social Security number and has the employee complete the W-4 employee withholding, taxes are taken out and the employer matches his portion. If however, the employee is an illegal alien, he never files a tax return for fear he will be found out.

Therefore, even though he has used a fake ID and Social Security number the employer holds the liability. As of today, there is no mechanism for the employer to check and verify that the information given to him is legitimate.

Do you think there might be an incentive for the government to look the other way?

County Executive John Leopold is to be applauded for his efforts to address the illegal immigration problem in the county but at the same time, the tools must be in place for the employers to verify that they are hiring only those authorized to work in Maryland.

Before we attempt to enforce the law against honest employers we must provide them the tools of verification. Employers who "knowingly" hire illegal aliens and pay them under the table should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Likewise, the illegal alien who perjured himself and used fraudulent identification documents should be punished and possibly deported.

Baltimore City, Prince George's and Montgomery County have been plagued by the influx of illegal immigration in the past 10 years. The question is, how has government's responded?

In Prince George's and Montgomery County, I have heard that there are "Safe Zones" (areas where illegal aliens operate with immunity) where the police avoid. In Baltimore, it seems as if the motive was to repopulate a rapidly vacating city. I am not sure of the motive in the other counties.

The bottom line is, state and local government must step up to the plate. We must stop immediately giving illegal alien's a driver's licenses and instate tuition discounts. We must begin to enforce all state and federal laws.

Finally, we must insure that only Maryland citizens are voting in our elections. It's time we require ID at the election polls.

The law-abiding citizens of Maryland are fed up when it comes to political correctness surrounding the illegal immigration problem in Maryland. It's time we do something.

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Del. Don Dwyer, R-Glen Burnie, represents District 31 in the House of Delegates. He is a member of the Judiciary Committee.