Mar 26, 2009 10:25 am US/Eastern
Panel Backs Denying License To Illegal Immigrants
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) ―
A Maryland Senate committee is backing an effort to deny licenses and state ID cards to people who can't prove they are legally in the country.
The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted late Wednesday to advance the bill to the Senate floor. Maryland is one of just four states where people don't have to prove they're legal U.S. residents to get driver's licenses. Some lawmakers say Maryland's rules make it a target for fraud by undocumented people from all over the U.S.
Others argue that allowing illegal immigrants to get state-issued identification gives police broader databases to use when investigating crimes and increases the rate of auto insurance coverage.
Hawaii, New Mexico and Washington also issue licenses to residents regardless of immigration status.
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