Release: O’Malley flip-flops on immigration

O’MALLEY FLIP-FLOPS ON IMMIGRATION

ANNAPOLIS—Yesterday, Governor Martin O’Malley told lawmakers that he hoped a Democrat would win the presidency so he would not have to implement the REAL ID Act, a federal law that requires that only U.S. citizens receive driver’s licenses.

In January, fresh off polls showing Marylanders universally disapprove of his performance, O’Malley indicated that by January 1, 2010, he intended to comply with the REAL ID Act and would require applicants for a Maryland driver’s license to prove that they are in the country legally. At that time, Maryland Republican Party Chairman Jim Pelura warned that “Martin O’Malley has proven time and again that his word does not carry much weight. He relies on smoke and mirrors and has broken many of his promises. The Republican Party will closely monitor that the REAL ID Act is implemented and that O’Malley keeps his word that illegal immigrants will no longer be issued a driver’s license.”

Following the latest broken promise by Martin O’Malley, Dr. Jim Pelura, Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, released the following statement:

“Martin O’Malley’s latest promise lasted a whole three weeks – if you think he intended to keep it in the first place. I didn’t then, and I don’t now.

“It is clear that O’Malley took note that two-thirds of Marylanders do not approve of the job he is doing. He tried to score quick points by announcing what he knew to be a popular policy – stop giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.

“However, Martin O’Malley’s arrogance has gotten the best of him again. He is now bragging that he had no intention to keep his promise and is hoping that either Senator Clinton or Barack Obama is elected president. He knows that a Democrat in the White House means amnesty for illegal immigrants.

“Republican legislators have been at the forefront of this issue and recently unveiled how serious the illegal immigration issue is in Maryland. Our state has become a magnet for illegal immigrants seeking a valid driver’s license without showing proof of legal presence. Over 100,000 ‘out of country’ applicants are processed in Maryland each year. Maryland receives approximately 250,000 illegal immigrant applications a year, and the O’Malley administration plans to invest in new equipment to process even more applications than it is already doing. Martin O’Malley is continuing his flip-flop ways.”

###