Dozens Protest NM Crackdown On Immigrant Driver’s Licenses

Foreign nationals in New Mexico are being selected — at random — to validate their driver’s licenses and prove the identification was obtained with proper documentation.

Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration says the initiative is a public safety issue, while protesters argue it is unconstitutional and will only provide a false sense of security.

“This is bad policy,” said Billy Garrett, a Dona Ana County commissioner. “I don’t think it’s good for the majority or for the minorities that are affected by this.”

The initiative has struck a nerve with about three dozen other protesters who gathered along Picacho Avenue on Tuesday morning. The group argued that if foreign nationals lose their license, they will simply drive without one.

“There will be no accountability and no way to trace these people,” said Marivel Salmon of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

But the people being selected can be anyone with a New Mexico driver’s license. Martinez ordered that anyone who receives a letter must prove they are in fact who their license says they are and that they are a permanent New Mexico resident.

Neither qualifications violate current law.

“We’ve seen advertisements in other states, advertisements in other countries, about how people can be trafficked into New Mexico, or can go into New Mexico, grab a license and go elsewhere with it,” said Scott Darnell, the governor’s spokesman.

Others argue that the state should welcome undocumented immigrants from elsewhere in the country to come to New Mexico to become a licensed driver.

“If people do come from another state here to get a driver’s license, that just makes them accountable for their actions when they are driving, so I would see that as a positive,” Salmon said.

Granting New Mexico driver’s licenses to those who do not live in the state is against the law, Darnell said.

“Driver’s licenses in New Mexico are to be given to residents of New Mexico,” Darnell said. “Currently that is not happening.”

Protesters said Martinez is trying to take away what they are calling a “common sense law,” and that even if the law is changed, it will not cause any undocumented immigrants to move out of the state.

“Would you move if you got your license taken away?” said Cristina Parker, a spokeswoman for the Border Network of Human Rights. “The only thing that’s going to happen if the governor repeals this law, is that people will drive without licenses. It’s common sense. … It’s the only realistic result.”

Former Gov. Bill Richardson passed the law that allowed New Mexico to grant driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status. Martinez tried unsuccessfully to repeal the law, but the fight is not over yet.

The driver’s license issue will be discussed at the special legislative session in September.