Letter to Maryland Governor Regarding Driver's Licenses
Honorable Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.
Office of the Governor
100 State Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401
Dear Governor Ehrlich:
This urgent letter is to alert you to a campaign to convince the Maryland Legislature to pass legislation that would make the State of Maryland a magnet for illegal immigrants and a haven for terrorists. I urge you to speak out against this effort. At issue is a bill about to be introduced by Del. Joseph D. Vallario (D-27-PG) that would make Maryland state driver’s licenses available to individuals irrespective of their status as legal or illegal aliens. This would be cleverly accomplished by outlawing discrimination by the Department of Motor Vehicles (Department) on the basis of immigration status. If enacted this bill would require the Department to accept completely unverifiable documents issued by foreign governments as valid identification. Currently, non-citizens must present a passport with a valid entry document issued by the U.S. government.
The organizers of this campaign include State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey, Prince Georges County Executive Jack Johnson, the Maryland Latino Coalition for Justice, and Casa de Maryland. The rhetoric of non-discrimination these individuals and groups will use is designed to mask another agenda. The real intention is to make illegal aliens invisible to enforcement authorities by giving them the one document they most need to secure employment, transact business and register to vote. The truth of the matter is Maryland has every right to distinguish between lawful and unlawful foreign residents when issuing identification documents such as a driver’s license or a state identification card.
Much more is at stake in this matter than the misguided parochial preferences of advocates for illegal immigrants. The nation’s security and public safety are also at stake. The 19 terrorist September 11 hijackers carried among them over 60 state driver’s licenses. These documents allowed them to obtain housing, transportation and other accommodations without raising suspicion while they planned and executed their deadly conspiracy.
Your close attention to this issue is essential. I strongly urge you to speak out clearly and forcefully in opposition to this emergent legislation.
Sincerely,
Dan Stein
Executive Director