An anti-terrorism group’s attempt to be included as a co-defendant in a lawsuit that claims the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration denies foreign-born applicants licenses has stalled as both sides file appeals in the case.
“The people of the state should be aware of what is at stake here,” said Peter Gadiel, president of the 9/11 Families for a Secure America. “This is not a lawsuit for legal immigrants to get licenses. This is a lawsuit so that illegal aliens and the unknown terrorists and violent assailants among them can.”
The group wants to become a co-defendant with the agency and the state’s department of transportation, but a Baltimore Circuit judge last month denied the motion, which has resulted in the appeals. However, the judge granted a request by the group to halt court proceedings, which could delay further action until next year.
“If it isn’t enough for victims of illegal aliens to become a part of the case … I don’t know what it takes,” Mr. Gadiel said.
Two immigrant-rights groups filed the suit in November of behalf of 13 immigrants, saying the agency discriminates against immigrants and illegal aliens by routinely rejecting proper documentation required for licenses.
Attorneys refuse to reveal the plaintiffs’ legal statuses because state law does not require license applicants to be living in the U.S. legally, based on a legal opinion from Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr.
Mr. Gadiel said yesterday the opinion threatens homeland security.
Tisha Tallman, regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, one of the groups that filed the suit, said her group has asked an appeals court to proceed as quickly as possible after deciding on the 9/11 Families appeal.
“Right now we’re just in a stalemate,” she said.
The motor vehicle agency recently reported that a 233 percent increase in license fraud — from 146 cases in 2003 to 515 last year — was in part the result of immigrants and illegal aliens presenting fake documents at branch offices.
CASA of Maryland, the other group that filed the suit, has argued that denying licenses to immigrants and illegal aliens is dangerous because as more come to the region and drive, roads will have more uninsured motorists.
The group also said denying the licenses creates a profitable black market for the documents and that granting the licenses improves national security because illegal applicants would have to register with the government.
Delegate Herbert H. McMillan, Anne Arundel Republican, in the 2006 General Assembly presented legislation for the third time that would have forced the state to comply two years ahead of schedule with provisions in the federal Real ID Act.
The act includes the requirement that all states by 2008 verify the legal status of license applicants, or the licenses may not be used for federal purposes such as boarding planes or entering federal buildings. Virginia tightened its licensing standards after learning several September 11, 2001, hijackers obtained licenses in the state.
Mr. McMillan, who is running for a state Senate seat, said he will submit another bill next year.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.