Posted on 01/14/2008 9:59:20 AM PST by Sammy67
No More Licenses For Illegal Aliens In Michigan Mon, 12/31/2007 - 10:25 — Judicial Watch Blog One of the few states in the nation that still grants driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants will finally stop doing so now that its attorney general reversed a policy stating that it’s unconstitutional to deny licenses to those in the country illegally.
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox wrote in a lengthy opinion that illegal immigrants are ineligible for driver’s licenses, reversing his predecessor’s (Attorney General Frank Kelley) opinion that denying illegal aliens licenses violates the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause.
Cox’s opinion is legally binding on state agencies and officers unless reversed by a judge and therefore driver’s license can no longer be issued to illegal aliens in Michigan. State law prohibits issuing driver’s licenses to nonresidents and Cox said he created the new policy because it would be inconsistent with federal law to regard an illegal immigrant as a permanent resident in Michigan.
He wrote that only a resident of Michigan may be issued a Michigan driver’s license and that a person who is not a lawful resident of the United States cannot be a resident of this state for purpose of obtaining a driver’s license. He also listed state and national security implications and the potential for fraud resulting from the improper issuance of a driver’s license.
The attorney general also addressed his predecessor’s constitutional violation theory by listing various federal court rulings contradicting it, including an appellate decision which Cox says leaves no doubt that a rational basis exists for denying driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.
Michigan’s new policy leaves Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington as the only states that currently do not require drivers to prove legal status in order to obtain a license. New York Governor Eliot Spitzer proposed the idea earlier this year but reneged after massive public outrage and threat of litigation from Judicial Watch.
Move to Maryland. Thanks Govenor.
Good job.
Hopefully the line at the DMV will be a lot shorter.
Congressman Billybob
Latest article, "License? We Don't Need No Steenkin' License!"
Oh how I wish Oregon would do this!
It’s amazing what common sense will do.
Oregon? It’ll NEVER happen here. Our government in Oregon seems to worship the illegal immigrant population.
And it wouldn’t matter if we the people of Oregon passed an initiative that demanded positive ID to get an ODL, the lousy bums in Salem would throw it out.
I want to move away from Oregon. Any suggestions out there?
Honestly I am thinking a warmer climate would do. Hawaii maybe, FEW illegals there! The plane flight is too much $$$ LOL
I have never understood the mentality that our leaders have regarding illegal immigration. A criminal walks into a state agency and admits to being a criminal. Not only do they not arrest him, they provide special services for him.
Yet, if you tried that with any other crime, you’d immediately be arrested and investigated. “Hi, I’m a bank robber, and I’m here for a driver’s license.”
Come on, idiots, deport them!! They’re standing right there in front of you, admitting they’re illegal.
We can use good conservatives in Indiana!!!
Not quite a scenic as Oregon, but a good place to live and you’d be at home here.
Great to hear some good news for once on this front.
Deport you AGAIN?
The laws are based on citizens having something to loose if they are incarcerated, or loose their rights to drive. It doesn’t matter as much when you are illegal anyway.
The biggest cost to deportation is the 5-6K it cost to come back, plus the lost time & living expenses while making the trip.
Exactly.
On the other hand, having a license, even if you don’t bother to get insurance or have a car in good working order gives you a certain legitimacy.
It’s a step toward an apartment or a bank account.
Maybe jail time for people who don’t have a license or who can’t qualify for a license?
I will believe it when I see OR DMV actually implement it effectively. Until then, consider me VERY skeptical.
surprised utah is like that as for the others then no I am not surprised at all
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