Thread: Michigan - marriage licenses for illegals

Ottawa County agrees to issue marriage licenses to illegal immigrants
mlive.com
June 15, 2010
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/ ... issue.html

GRAND RAPIDS -- A Latino civil rights group said today it has settled a federal class action lawsuit against Ottawa County over a marriage policy that group said infringed on a couple's fundamental right be marry.

"Ottawa county agreed to revise its policy to allow any individual seeking to be married that does not have a social security number to marry so long as that person fills out an affidavit stating, under penalty of perjury, that he or she does not have a social security number," Los Angeles-based Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund said.

"We are very pleased to announce the resolution of this matter, and we believe the new policy protects the fundamental right to marry for Latino couples in Ottawa County, regardless of immigration status," attorney Ricardo Meza said.

The complaint, filed May 11, said the county's policy of denying marriage licenses to couples who did not have social security numbers was unconstitutional. The former policy hurt illegal immigrants who did not have social security numbers.

Meza said all couples, regardless of immigration status, have the right to marry.

The county has agreed to pay damages and legal fees for the plaintiffs, Meza said.

Ottawa County Clerk Dan Krueger once said: "Show me where in the Constitution it says that there is a right to marriage. "

The organization filed a similar lawsuit against Kent County Clerk Mary Hollinrake. She requires those applying for a marriage license with a Social Security numbert to prove they qualify for certain exemptions. Other clerks around the state require applicants to sign an affidavit that they do not have a federal identification number.

In that case why should Americans with SSNs be required to give their number? I'd sign an affidativ rather than give them my SSN.

They would at least need a Passport.

What the hell is going on here???

How do we know exactly who is getting married.
Aliases on the paperwork??

Quote:
"The county has agreed to pay damages and legal fees for the plaintiffs, Meza said."

And this is where these perennial "civil rights lawsuit organzations" have us--and small communities, especially--over a financial barrel. Legislation was passed during the era of struggle for equal civil rights for U.S. citizen African Americans requiring that those being unable to succesfully defend such a suit pay the plaintiff's legal fees. The purpose of this was to enable U.S. citizens without sufficient financial means to bring legitimate civil rights lawsuits. Now, however, organizations such as the ACLU and MALEF are "making legal hay" out of being able to bring so many lawsuits under the guise of civil rights knowing they will not have to pay their own legal fees on every suit they win. Although he supports CIR, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) did sponsor legislation which would remove this provision, although I don' t think it went anywhere. He is retiring this year.

Originally Posted by miguelina

In that case why should Americans with SSNs be required to give their number? I'd sign an affidativ rather than give them my SSN.

Ditto! If I were an American citizen seeking a marriage license and asked for my SS#, I would tell them to kiss my @$$!

Asking an American citizen for a SS # is discriminatory when you are issuing the same license to those that do not have a SS#!

What's the purpose?