Thread: N.M. GOP Governor Candidate: No Licenses for Illegals

N.M. GOP Governor Candidate: No Licenses for Illegals

Farmington Daily Times (New Mexico)
September 13, 2010
By Steve Lynn The Daily Times
FARMINGTON, NM

Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez said Friday she will take steps to repeal a law that allows illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses.

Martinez, speaking outside the Motor Vehicle Division in Farmington on Friday afternoon, also said she would revoke licenses the state has issued to illegal immigrants.

"The Legislature needs to have a bill proposed repealing that law and I would sign it if it hit my desk as governor," Martinez told reporters at a news conference outside the division offices.

The Dona Ana County district attorney faces Democratic Lt. Gov. Diane Denish in a contentious race for New Mexico governor.

Denish said in an e-mail statement issued by her campaign that the license law is "horribly flawed and must be repealed."

New Mexico, Utah and Washington are the only states that issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

Martinez repeated a claim stated in one of her television advertisements: The state has issued 50,000 driver's licenses under the administrations of Denish and Gov. Bill Richardson.

"We have to make sure that we don't make New Mexico attractive for illegal immigrants and that's what we're doing right now by providing sanctuary and by giving them driver's licenses," Martinez said.

Since the law was enacted in 2003, New Mexico has issued more than 80,000 driver's licenses to foreign nationals who lack Social Security numbers, said Mike Sandoval, director of the state Motor Vehicle Division. The division is unsure of their immigration status because it doesn't ask.

The number of uninsured motorists could increase if licenses of illegal immigrants were revoked, Sandoval said.

Sandoval didn't know exactly how the state could revoke licenses carried by illegal immigrants since the immigration status of the foreign nationals who carry them is unknown, Sandoval said.

"That's up to the new governor and the Legislature as to how they want to deal with that," Sandoval said. "I don't exactly know what they would do or what they would decide."

Before it issues driver's licenses to foreign nationals, the division reviews applications and the validity of documents such as birth certificates, passports, Mexican matriculas and proof of residency in New Mexico.

Martinez said she handled cases where documents for illegal immigrant driver's licenses were forged and where they were illegally obtained.

Martinez said laws against uninsured motorists should be enforced if driver's licenses of illegal immigrants were revoked.

"You have to enforce the laws that are on the books before changing that law," she said.

Martinez also touched on border security during the news conference, saying violence on the U.S.-Mexican border threatened New Mexico and the nation.

The federal government must protect the border before immigration reform takes place in the state and nationwide, she said. She supports use of unmanned aircraft and overtime for sheriff's offices to aid U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

"We have to have it all because we are having that trickling violence coming across the border into the communities. That's unacceptable," Martinez said.

Violence has taken a toll on the state's already strained budget as the federal government has failed to act, Martinez said.

"I understand the impacts that the illegal immigration has on our communities and I promise to make security of our border ... a top priority," she said.

Steve Lynn:

slynn@daily-times.com

http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/En ... 8&start=12

Question....Does she want an amnesty??? Then the illegals won't be illegals anymore and they can keep their licenses.....I just don't trust Democrats and Republicans

i do hope you stop the illigal immigrants from Have Lic to drive they kill the nun what the hell is with this gov come on who idear is this . they see what going on & the Voice Of American has not say In this are we all jack ass to all Of the Gov just for Vote . well we are going to figth you On this . Our guys are over sea & for what we did not start this war they did our guy should Be at the Border Im sick of the gov & the President Not helping the American this is all obama doing he said he would Get the Illigal Immigrant over in the USA & he doing just that well they have Our jobs & they get everything free well we are Piss off & we are going to fight you all ON this come hell or Hi water come on American fight & all you congress this is your Country also we vote you in do something . & do it right Not just for the vote Good Luck Joe & Gov Jan Brewer & Lou Barletta & ALIPC save our Country