Ottawa County Michigan agrees to issue marriage licenses to illegal immigrants

[stopracism]

Ottawa County agrees to issue marriage licenses to illegal immigrants
mlive.com
June 15, 2010
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi..._to_issue.html

GRAND RAPIDS -- A Latino civil rights group said today it has settled a federal class action lawsuit against Ottawa County over a marriage policy that group said infringed on a couple's fundamental right be marry.

"Ottawa county agreed to revise its policy to allow any individual seeking to be married that does not have a social security number to marry so long as that person fills out an affidavit stating, under penalty of perjury, that he or she does not have a social security number," Los Angeles-based Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund said.

"We are very pleased to announce the resolution of this matter, and we believe the new policy protects the fundamental right to marry for Latino couples in Ottawa County, regardless of immigration status," attorney Ricardo Meza said.

The complaint, filed May 11, said the county's policy of denying marriage licenses to couples who did not have social security numbers was unconstitutional. The former policy hurt illegal immigrants who did not have social security numbers.

Meza said all couples, regardless of immigration status, have the right to marry.

The county has agreed to pay damages and legal fees for the plaintiffs, Meza said.

Ottawa County Clerk Dan Krueger once said: "Show me where in the Constitution it says that there is a right to marriage. "

The organization filed a similar lawsuit against Kent County Clerk Mary Hollinrake. She requires those applying for a marriage license with a Social Security numbert to prove they qualify for certain exemptions. Other clerks around the state require applicants to sign an affidavit that they do not have a federal identification number.