Fact Sheet on SJ5: REAL ID

CLICK HERE FOR SJ5 PRESS RELEASE

The supporters of SJ 5 have ignored the repercussions and the benefit of REAL ID.

What happens if Maryland does not  prepare for REAL ID and the Federal Government does not change the requirements?

• Maryland Driver’s Licenses could not be used to
  • Get on Airplanes
  • Enter Federal Buildings
  • Prove your identification to any federal government agencies
    • Social Security
    • Medicare
  • Open Checking Accounts
  • As a transferable license to another state
• A Passport would have to be used to do all of these things.
  • Passports cost $97 to get
  • Increase the difficulty to get a passport because a driver’s license is no longer a primary source

SJ 5 Hurts the US in the Fight Against Terrorism

• Resolutions states “with no attendant benefit such as protection from terrorism” which is completely FALSE.
• 9/11 Hijackers possessed drivers licenses even though they were in the country illegally.
  • Mohammad Atta, the ringleader, possessed an illegal driver’s license.
    • Atta drove the 1^st plane into the World Trade Center.
    • Our state police pulled him over on his way to Boston.
    • If he did not have a valid license, the officer would have been able to arrest him and then do a background check that would have proved he overstayed his visa.
    • REAL ID may have stopped the attacks that day.
  • The 9/11 Commission found “obtaining the documents (drivers licenses) was a key step in the ultimate success of the operation.”
• REAL ID limits the length of driver’s licenses to the duration of an immigrant’s visa.
  • Currently, an immigrant can have a 6-month work visa and their driver’s license does not expire for 6years.
  • Mohammad Atta’s visa had expired, but his license was valid so the police did not investigate when they pulled him over.
  • A large sum of Illegal Immigrants in the country is illegal because they have overstayed their visas.
    • A study found that 35 of 94 terrorists who operated in the country from 1990 – 2004 used valid temporary visas to enter the country. Including 6 members of the 9/11 terrorists
  • Association of American Motor Vehicle Administrators considered tying the expiration date of the license to the expiration date of a visitor’s permitted stated a fundamental “best practice.”

People of Maryland Oppose Illegal Immigrants getting drivers licenses

• Schaefer Institute Poll released recently stated:
  • 76% oppose “allowing illegal immigrants to obtain a Maryland driver’s license”
  • 83% favor “limiting the length of drivers license to the exact time listed on visas
  • Why is Illegal Immigration a Problem (choose one)
    • 38% believe the economy and jobs
    • 27% believe terrorism and security
    • 19% Impacts on American Culture

CLICK HERE FOR SJ5 PRESS RELEASE