New Mexico House Passes Bill to Secure Driver’s Licenses
Last week, the New Mexico House of Representatives by a vote of 45-25 passed legislation that would bar illegal aliens from obtaining driver’s licenses. (Las Cruces News, Feb. 8, 2012) The vote in favor of passage came after nearly four hours of debate, and after two committees scrutinized the legislation. (Associated Press, Feb. 8, 2012) The House Labor and Human Relations Committee first gutted the bill, but then the House Judiciary Committee essentially restored it to its original state. (See H.B. 103 legislative history; see also FAIR Legislative Update, Jan. 30, 2012) The final vote in favor of passage included three Democrats who had last year voted against the bill. (Las Cruces News, Feb. 8, 2012)
The bill, H.B. 103, stops illegal aliens from obtaining New Mexico driver’s licenses by making important changes to state law. First, the bill requires that driver’s license applicants submit valid social security numbers instead of simply an individual taxpayer identification number. The bill also requires foreign applicants to submit passport or visa information, plus the date on which the alien’s period of lawful admission expires. The alien’s driver’s license shall then expire the date the alien’s lawful admission expires. (See FAIR Legislative Update, Jan. 30, 2012)
The spokesman for Governor Martinez, who strongly supports H.B. 103, praised the House vote. He said, "It's time for the Senate to also stand with the people of New Mexico and repeal this dangerous law." Opposition to H.B. 103 is expected to be stronger in the state Senate, which killed a similar bill last year. (Santa Fe New Mexican, Feb. 8,
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