National group pressures on license law

VIDEO
Americans Fight illegal Alien Supporters Over New Mexico Licenses for Invaders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M--SyYC ... ideo_title


E-mail, calls target legislators

Updated: Wednesday, 21 Sep 2011, 7:28 PM MDT
Published : Wednesday, 21 Sep 2011, 5:34 PM MDT

* Reporter: Katie Kim

SANTA FE, NM (KRQE) - The heat is about to get hotter on state lawmakers over the issue of giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.

Thousands of activists from the national political strongarm "Americans For Legal Immigration" stepped forward Wednesday to support Gov. Susana Martinez' call to kill the controversial license law.

"They're calling, e-mailing and faxing New Mexico lawmakers asking them to stand with the 77 percent of Americans that oppose licenses to illegal immigrants," said William Gheen, director of ALIPAC.

The group says the current policy is hurting all Americans. They're pressuring legislators to support Martinez's efforts to repeal the 2003 law.

"It's very clear that the current laws in New Mexico are being fully exploited by illegal immigrants that need those licenses to conduct other illegal activity in the U.S." said Gheen.

But the group has some competition. A handful of religious leaders also descended on the Roundhouse on Wednesday to argue the exact opposite.

"In order to provide them with basic rights and access to the things our society provide, it's important to provide them with a driver's license," said Reverend Brandon Johnson of The United Church in Santa Fe.

These religious leaders say what happens in New Mexico is no one else's business.

"The fact that national organizations and speakers try to impose their agenda on our particular circumstances and the way we deal with borders and documentation I think is absurd," said Johnson.

Martinez has asked lawmakers to tackle the license issue during the special session of the Legislature.

Legislators have been too tied up with redistricting to even address it.

If it doesn't happen this session, Martinez says she'll keep pushing for a repeal.



http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/politics/n ... icense-law

VIDEO
Americans Fight illegal Alien Supporters Over New Mexico Licenses for Invaders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M--SyYC ... ideo_title