Democrats assail governor's immigration order

Barry Massey | The Associated Press
Posted: Thursday, February 03, 2011 - 2/3/11 0

SANTA FE — Democratic lawmakers are opposing Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's directive that state law enforcement ask about the immigration status of those arrested for crimes.

Sen. Linda Lopez of Albuquerque said Thursday at a news conference that the governor's executive order will lead to racial profiling of Hispanics. She and more than a dozen other legislators criticized the governor's policy, likening it to a controversial immigration enforcement law in Arizona.

Martinez issued the executive order this week, overturning a policy by former Gov. Bill Richardson that prohibited the state police from asking about immigration status solely to determine whether the individual was in violation of federal immigration laws.

Administration officials say state police will not ask about immigration status of motorists stopped for traffic violations such as speeding.

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