Thread: N.M.: Compromise tabled on illegals' licenses

Compromise tabled on illegals' licenses

Committee voted along party lines to kill the bill

Updated: Thursday, 10 Feb 2011, 7:43 PM MST
Published : Thursday, 10 Feb 2011, 5:21 PM MST

Reporter: Katie Kim

SANTA FE (KRQE) - The House Labor and Human Resources Committee voted 5-4, along party lines, late Thursday afternoon to table House Bill 261 that would issue illegal immigrants a driving permit instead of a license.

Rep. Bill Rehm , R-Albuquerque, who sponsored the bill, said it was a "common ground" proposal between several members of the Legislature and Gov. Susana Martinez.

Martinez repeatedly said throughout her campaign that she wanted to stop the practice of issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

"I'm trying to find a compromise that will work," said Rehm.

If his bill passed, it would have required illegal immigrants to trade in their licenses for permits between July 1 Dec. 31. After that, Rehm said all licenses would have been revoked. He said the permits would have to be renewed annually instead of once every eight years as is standard for a normal license.

"Many of them are transient, and I don't want to have licenses that are being used in other states," said Rehm.

The special permits would indicate that an individual was an illegal immigrant and could not be used as a form of identification.

"A lot of individuals have come to New Mexico to get a driver's license, and then left to go ahead and use that driver's license to open bank accounts and board aircraft,"said Rehm.

But those opposed to the bill said it was a form of discrimination.

"Many have lived here for a number of years," said Rep. Eleanor Chavez , D-Albuquerque. "They've contributed to New Mexico's economy and so really doing this isn't fair."

Even the governor said she isn't a fan of compromising the issue .

"I'm not concerned about what's popular with the Legislature," Martinez said. "What's most important is what's popular with the public. And more than 80 percent of the public in New Mexico does not want to be issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants."

About 85,000 foreign nationals have New Mexico driver's licenses, but not all of them are in the country illegally.

www.krqe.com

Bill to revoke foreigners' driver's licenses fails
Alamogordo Daily News
By Milan Simonich, Santa Fe Bureau
Posted: 02/10/2011 10:10:11 PM MST


SANTA FE - A bill to revoke the driver's licenses of foreign nationals and undocumented immigrants failed Thursday in a House committee.

Rep. Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque, proposed taking away licenses from 82,700 foreign nationals, an unknown number of whom are in the country illegally.

Rehm would have allowed these people to obtain one-year driver's "permits" that would not have been valid as identification at airports or secure buildings, such as federal courthouses.

The House Labor and Human Resources Committee tabled his bill on a 5-4 vote. The measure is HB 261.

Democrats said the 2003 New Mexico law that allows illegal immigrants and foreign nationals to obtain driver's licenses had made roads safer because these motorist can buy auto insurance.

"Replacing driver's licenses for immigrants with ineffective driver's permits would take us back to the Stone Age, not to mention that it would also increase insurance rates for all of us," said Rep. Miguel Garcia, D-Albuquerque, the committee chairman.

Rep. Andy Nunez, an independent from Hatch, has filed a bill terminate driving privileges for illegal immigrants. His proposal would require every applicant for a license to have a Social Security number, effectively shutting out illegal immigrants.

Nunez's bill is favored by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, but Rehm said it had no chance to make it through the committee process.

New Mexico, Utah and Washington are the only states that grant licenses to people without proof of immigration status. Eight other states have repealed those types of laws.

http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_17357026

He needs to do what whats his face in Arizonia is doing and shove it before another commitee to proceed only as far as removing liscenses from illegals, no friggin permits.

Its silly to even try to compromise with the liberals though. For them its not about illegals being able to drive but giving rights to illegals and promoting them. So anything that can be seen as taking away they will stand against period. Only reason for a compromise if if there was that 1 moderate dem or rep who wasn't sure and their vote was needed.

our nation has compromised enough already . ,

Martinez repeatedly said throughout her campaign that she wanted to stop the practice of issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

"I'm trying to find a compromise that will work," said Rehm.

Why do we need to COMPROMISE regarding those who are criminals and have no right to be here! This is a direct victory for the illegal invaders and their lobby and another example of how this country is being colonized by illegal invaders and seemingly nothing can be done to stop it!

What's it going to take to rid this country of illegal invaders? We're being invaded and nothing is being done to defend ourselves expect COMPROMISE! Those who compromise have already lost the war!

If illegal invaders are not voting, then why do they carry so much influence in our government! I want to know because what ever the answer is, it's illegal, corrupt and should land a whole bunch of people in jail, it not worse!!!

We need serious reform in this country!

Good! So ALIPAC's lobbying pressure assisted in defeating this 'special permit' bill.

So what now, can illegals continue to get licenses in New Mexico or is Martinez pulling that?

W

added to the homepage with new title

Victory in New Mexico! Legislature defeats Special Driving Permits for illegals!
http://www.alipac.us/article6073.html

All permits to illegals need to be revoked and never again reissued. THat should be the bottom line now and for the future in EVERY state.

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Good! So ALIPAC's lobbying pressure assisted in defeating this 'special permit' bill.

So what now, can illegals continue to get licenses in New Mexico or is Martinez pulling that?

W

This doesn't seem to say anything about New Mexico will stop giving license to illegal aliens.
It seem to only say that the bill to only issue special one year license not good for ID will not be passed.

They can still get licenses and we havent heard differently in colorado as we get alot of their news.

8 years for licenses is a long time if they are not revoked unless people come in with proof of legal residency this session as well.