Ohio Set to Revoke Illegal-Alien Vehicle Registrations

In October, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles informed over 47,000 vehicle owners that their registrations would be canceled unless they provide a valid Ohio driver license or identification card or proof of a Social Security number. The Bureau is attempting to close a loophole that allowed illegal aliens to register vehicles without valid documentation. Those notified have until December 8 to show proper documentation or risk having their license plates flagged as invalid in police computers.

The loophole in question enabled illegal aliens without driver’s licenses and insurance to use legal U.S. residents known as “runners” to register vehicles on their behalf with power-of-attorney forms. These forms did not require proof of the identity of vehicle owners, so the State is now attempting verification. Bureau spokeswoman Lindsay Komlanc said “What we are actually doing through this policy is verifying in our system to be sure people are who they say they are.”

But the League of United Latin American Citizens has filed suit against the State in an attempt to prevent the cancellation of registrations. LULAC’s suit claims the State is engaging in immigration regulation reserved for the Federal government, and argues the vehicles were legally registered under state regulations and laws in effect at the time.

About 2,200 people have provided the necessary documentation this far.See more information here.