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The alliance will include organizations such as Help Save Maryland and Save the Old Dominion that have sought new laws against illegal immigration around the region. Judicial Watch, a conservative Washington government watchdog organization, and Maryland Minuteman Civil Defense Corps are also part of the group, which is getting support from the American Council for Immigration Reform.

The alliance is a sign of the growing network these groups are forming in the wake of several high-profile battles over immigration issues in the region.

Much of Save the Old Dominion’s focus has been on Prince William County, Va., where county supervisors last year passed a resolution to curb illegal immigrants’ access to public services and use local police to enforce immigration laws.

‘‘We understand that this could create some challenges for folks in Fairfax or Loudoun County or even Montgomery County, which is seen as a more welcoming place for illegal immigrants,” said Greg Letiecq, executive director of Save the Old Dominion, an umbrella organization for anti-illegal immigration groups in Virginia, which count 3,000 members.

The alliance will help the groups coordinate their efforts, said Brad Botwin, director of Help Save Maryland.

‘‘We’d obviously like to have what’s happening in Prince William County, Va., happening here rather than this Band-Aid process [that] Montgomery County has instead of trying to address this problem directly,” said Botwin of Derwood.

Kim Propeack, a lobbyist for immigrant advocacy group Casa of Maryland, is skeptical about the alliance’s goals.

‘‘They’re already communicating regionally and nationally and coordinating regionally and nationally,” Propeack said. ‘‘I don’t see how a launch of a regional coalition makes much of a difference.”

The organization of anti-illegal immigration groups is a sign of frustration, House Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell said.

‘‘Failure to act and to rein this problem in will continue to generate a backlash in the public arena ...,” O’Donnell said. ‘‘Citizens are frustrated that those who break our laws are taking advantage of us.”

None of the immigration issues were resolved in the General Assembly this year.

Bills aimed at barring counties and municipalities from giving legal sanctuary to illegal immigrants, requiring proof of legal presence to get a driver’s license and allowing citizens to file a complaint seeking suspension, removal or impeachment of a state official who violated federal immigration laws all received unfavorable reports from the House Judiciary Committee.

‘‘We counted 26 different initiatives of all different types,” Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez said. ‘‘None of the anti-immigration initiatives made it.”

Immigration advocates also struggled, failing to get $1 million in funding for an initiative that would establish citizenship support centers around the state to offer courses and legal assistance to immigrants seeking to become citizens.

Casa representatives met with officials in Gov. Martin O’Malley’s office this week to discuss how state agencies could ‘‘move forward with components of the initiative,” Propeack said.

Casa representatives also hope to meet with the University System of Maryland’s Board of Regents to push for policy changes allowing in-state tuition for children who graduate from a state high school, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.

Bills that would have prevented the regents from offering in-state tuition to children of illegal immigrants died in committee.

Both sides of the debate are looking to the federal government to resolve big issues such as how to determine and enforce legal status.

In the meantime, lawmakers are hoping to identify the economic effect of immigration on the state. Lawmakers passed one of several bills introduced in the General Assembly commissioning a study of immigration on Maryland.

‘‘We expect this commission will serve as a buffer for this year and the year after if we don’t see the new [presidential] administration take some action in addressing immigration,” said Gutierrez (D-Dist. 18) of Chevy Chase.

Republicans see the study as a small victory brought about by pressure from Republicans and moderate Democrats. Some lawmakers are skeptical of how beneficial the study could be, saying it will be difficult to separate legal from illegal immigrants.

The 2009 agenda for anti-illegal immigrant groups will look a lot like their 2008 priorities.

‘‘No. 1 has got to be the driver’s license issue,” Botwin said. ‘‘We are sticking out like a sore thumb.”

Maryland is one of seven states that do not require licensed drivers to prove their legal status. O’Malley has pledged that Maryland will comply with the federal Real ID law that requires proof of legal residency to get a driver’s license. But the state has been granted an extension until 2010 to comply with the law.

On the final day of the 2008 session, Senate Minority Leader David R. Brinkley (R-Dist. 4) of New Market tried to resolve the issue with an amendment to a bill on commercial driver’s licenses that would have required legal present for all driver’s licenses.

The amendment failed 24-23. Republicans claimed the narrow margin was a sign that Democrats — including the nine who voted for the amendment — are moving toward the Republican position on the issue.

‘‘You could argue that any of the 24 votes were the deciding vote ...,” said Senate Minority Whip Allan H. Kittleman (R-Dist. 9) of West Friendship. ‘‘That’s probably the first time we’ve ever had anything on the record.”

O’Donnell (R-Dist. 29C) of Lusby agreed.

‘‘Quietly, many Democrats have told me, ‘You’re right, we need to work in this area,’” he said.

The state is dealing with immigration issues ‘‘across the board,” said Del. Victor R. Ramirez (D-Dist. 47) of Mount Rainier. ‘‘Because one way or another we’re just kind of piece-mealing and putting Band-Aids on the issues where the federal government hasn’t shown any leadership.”

Maryland has work to do, even with federal guidance, O’Donnell said.

‘‘We’re one of a few states that issues driver’s licenses to illegals,” O’Donnell said. ‘‘So we have our own problems regardless of what the federal government does.”