The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration is considering proposing legislation requiring that applicants for driver’s licenses prove they are legally living in Maryland, a move long championed by opponents of illegal immigration.
The move, now being discussed with the governor’s office, would reverse current practice that has led to hundreds of thousands of “out-of-country” applicants from all over the country to seek Maryland licenses.
Maryland is now the only state east of the Rocky Mountains that issues licenses without proof of “legal presence,” said MVA Administrator John Kuo.
“We’ve tried to keep out of the immigration debate,” Kuo said after an Annapolis hearing where he revealed the discussions in the Gov. Martin O’Malley administration. But other states have tightened their restrictions, and “it has negative consequence on us.”
There is “a burgeoning problem” of licenses issued with foreign documents, Kuo said. Since 2006, about 300,000 appointments were set up for out-of-country applicants, and “the calls are coming from all regions of the country,” according to tracking by Verizon.
“We have escalating fraud issues,” Kuo said, and he would like to see the requirement changed even without the implementation of the federal Real ID Act that insists on proof of “legal presence” over the next decade.
Del. Ron George, R-Anne Arundel, drafted legislation to require legal presence the past two years, but the bills died in committee. He said it would be “awesome” if the administration would submit it own measure, but “I’m still putting my own bill in.”
“I know that John Kuo is on the same page with us,” George said. “I think the governor is starting to get the message.”
George said there are “ads in Spanish-language newspapers” touting the availability of Maryland driver’s licenses. “It has become more of a problem with every year,” the delegate said, increasing the numbers of illegal immigrants and increasing the demand for state social and health services.
“This is costing us a lot,” George said.
But Del. Victor Ramirez, D-Prince George’s, an advocate on immigration issues, said Kuo didn’t give the Joint Committee on Federal Relations enough reasons for his decision, and is looking for facts and figures from Kuo.
“Having licensed drivers makes it safer for all of us,” regardless of their immigration status, Ramirez said. He found it “kind of ironic” that this measure would be offered as Barack Obama takes office, since Obama has questioned the Real ID program, as has the secretary-designate of homeland security, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.
