AUGUSTA -- Requiring everyone to prove they are legal residents to get a drivers license would make Maine roads less safe, do nothing to improve the county's security, and discriminate against immigrant workers crucial to Maine's economy, immigrant rights groups said Monday.

Members of the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, at a Statehouse news conference Monday, lashed out at Gov. John Baldacci's proposal aimed at complying with federal law by requiring anyone seeking a Maine driver's license to prove they are legal residents.

They said the legislation is more likely to put more unlicensed drivers on the road, rather than make roads more safe or the country more secure.

That's because immigrants who can't prove they are here legally, or who are going through the process of trying to become legal residents, still have families to support and so would be forced to drive to work without licenses, said Beth Stickney, executive director of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project.

"It targets those people on the path to residency who are trying to keep their families together," Stickney said. "They're working in our hotels, our seafood industry... they're keeping our economy going. By singling them out, we're discriminating against them and also guaranteeing there will be more unlicensed drivers on the road."

Baldacci's proposal was made in an effort to comply with federal Department of Homeland Security identification requirements.

If Maine didn't indicate a willingness to comply with the tighter licensing requirements, starting May 11 Mainers could have faced additional security scrutiny at federal buildings or while traveling.

Shanna Bellows, executive director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union, said her organization was prepared to go to Washington to fight against that sanction. She said Maine was being singled out by the federal government, as other states have handled the situation similarly but have not been threatened with having their residents subject to extra security screening.

"To treat Maine in a way they're treating no one else is wrong, and probably unconstitutional," Bellows said. "The Department of Homeland Security is fear-mongering, to say Mainers will be subject to additional security. It's political, it's arbitrary, and it shouldn't be allowed."

Luc Nya, a Cameroon native and current Portland resident who said he is a legal, permanent U.S. resident with a "green card" and drivers license, said he attended the news conference because he was concerned about possible unseen impacts of the proposal.

"I think the state of Maine and its residents have been very welcoming to me in a great many ways," Nya said. "However I'm concerned about the impact of this kind of legislation."

He said he had concerns about where information collected by the government in issuing drivers licenses could go and whether the proposed new requirements could impact the process for becoming a United States citizen, which he will be eligible for in 2010.

Bill Slavik, coordinator of Pax Christi Maine, which he described as a Catholic and ecumenical peace and social justice movement, said he feels the governor's proposal is "shameful."

Baldacci's proposal is expected to go to the state Legislature this week.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com