Commissioners urge governor to take action on New Mexico licenses

Dona Ana County Commissioners approved a resolution on Tuesday to send to the state Legislature, urging the governor to take action before Jan. 10. Starting January,New Mexico licenses will no longer be valid to enter federal facilities.

During the meeting, the suggestion of a two-tier license system was brought up. That system would give one set of licenses to non-citizens and a different set to citizens.

“We do oppose the idea of creating the scarlet letter I.D. that further marginalizes our people,” Johana Bencomo, community organizer of Communities in Action and Faith, said.

Bencomo tells ABC-7 she’s seen the two-tier system done in states like Colorado and fears it will only label undocumented immigrants.

“It’s acknowledged that in other states this has been accomplished and i think we should encourage our legislators to do so,” Commissioner Wayne Hancock said.

Commissioners debated over whether or not they should suggest that system in their resolution to the governor. Commissioner Benjamin Rawson argued against it, wanting to avoid the politics in Santa Fe.

“His decision to amend this resolution to support only one of the options that are out there is disappointing to me,” Rawson said.

Nonetheless, commissioners approved the amendment 4 to 1, hoping their words encourage the state government to act fast.

But Bencomo warns a two-tier system may not be as good as it seems.

“These folks are already in the margins. These folks are already in the darkest corners of our state and I think doing something like this would further push them to the shadows,” Bencomo said.

A spokesperson for Gov. Susana Martinez says she has already tried five times to repeal the New Mexico law that gives licenses to undocumented immigrants.