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Maryland's License Dilemma
A limited ID for illegal immigrants is the least-bad choice.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009; Page A22 - Washington Post
WE'VE SAID before that it makes little sense to deprive illegal immigrants of drivers licenses: It only will encourage more people to drive without proper training or insurance, endangering everyone. At the same time, as other states have tightened their laws, Maryland reportedly has become a magnet for illegal immigrants seeking licenses. This is unacceptable, too, given the possibilities of fraud and abuse. The Maryland General Assembly is wrestling with this dilemma.
To comply with a federal law known as Real ID, which requires stricter identification for boarding a plane or entering a federal building, Maryland has to change its law. The state Senate passed a bill that would prevent all undocumented immigrants from obtaining licenses; the House passed a bill that would do the same but would allow immigrants who already have licenses to keep them and, when those licenses expire, replace them with a second-tier document that would allow driving but not qualify as federal ID. The House bill, which has Gov. Martin J. O'Malley's (D) support, is preferable. link to complete article
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