NM undocumented immigrant license law to remain in effect

By Milan Simonich / Santa Fe Bureau
Posted: 03/19/2011 10:41:47 AM MDT

SANTA FE - The law that enables undocumented immigrants to obtain New Mexico driver's licenses will remain in effect.

A special six-member committee of legislators could not reach a compromise this morning on vastly different Senate and House bills.

The legislative session ends at noon today, and with that all attempts to reform the driver's license law will die.

The House of Representatives two weeks ago approved a bill to bar undocumented immigrants from receiving driver's licenses.

The Senate, though, fought that bill. It approved a measure of its own to continue allowing people without proof of immigration status to receive driver's licenses.

The Senate measure would have required fingerprinting of undocumented

NM CAPITOL REPORT
A view from the state capitol.

immigrants who receive driver's licenses, and it would have mandated that they renew their licenses every two years.
Rep. Andy Nunez, who sponsored the House bill to end licensing of undocumented immigrants, said the Senate caused a stalemate that defied the will of the people. He said New Mexicans overwhelmingly believe it is a bad idea to issue driver's licenses to people who are in the country illegally.

"It's a bunch of baloney. The Senate is the one that killed this," Nunez said. "They're going to have to answer for it."

Senate Democrats held off the bill that Nunez wanted. Republicans in the Senate backed Nunez's measure.

Republican Gov. Susana Martinez also wanted to repeal the law that enables undocumented immigrants to receive driver's licenses. She made that issue a centerpiece of her campaign and her legislative agenda.
Martinez said issuing licenses to illegal immigrants weakens border and national security.

Please see Sunday's print edition for more details.

Santa Fe Bureau Chief Milan Simonich can be reached at msimonich@-tnmnp.com or 505-820-6898. His blog is at nmcapitolreport.com.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_17650296