Judge Blocks NM Plan To Verify Immigrant Licenses
A state judge has blocked Republican Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration from requiring some immigrants to recertify their driver’s licenses and verify whether they continue to live in New Mexico.
District Court Judge Sarah Singleton issued an order Wednesday temporarily halting the license verification program while it’s being challenged in court.
A lawsuit was filed last week against the administration’s plan to check a random sample of 10,000 license holders who are foreign nationals to determine their residency. People who receive notices must schedule an in-person appointment.
A spokesman for the Martinez said that the order is a procedural step and is fairly standard, as the court examines the residency certification program.
“In the absence of the Legislature acting to put an end to the program that provides driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, the governor has the responsibility to identify and attempt to curb the dangerous fraud and identity theft that is inherent in it,” Scott Darnell said. “The governor continues to fight alongside the overwhelming majority of New Mexicans who feel that granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants is a dangerous policy that has led to fraud and abuse as non-residents are trafficked or travel to New Mexico for the sole purpose of getting a driver’s license and leaving.”
New Mexico is one of only three states — the others are Washington and Utah — where an illegal immigrant can get a driver’s license because no proof of citizenship is required. However, Utah’s permits cannot be used as government ID cards.
