ImmigrationNew Mexico considers ending immigrant licenses

Lawmakers in New Mexico are considering a bill that would repeal a state law that permits undocumented immigrants to receive state driver’s licenses.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that last week, the legislation passed the state House of Representatives and is now headed to the Senate. Last year a similar House bill was heavily amended by the Senate, effectively killing it, and analysts believe that will happen once again.

Support for the bill is largely divided along partisan lines with Democrats in opposition to it and the Republicans, backed by Republican Governor Susana Martinez, in support of it.

Critics say the bill goes too far in limiting the rights of immigrants. 

Elsa Lopez, of Somos un Pueblo Unido, a local immigrant-rights organization, hopes the bill does not pass the Senate as she fears that it will be the start of an escalating series of bill against immigrants.

“It starts with driver’s licenses,” she said, pointing to the fact that in Arizona, legislators first revoked driver’s licenses to immigrants before eventually passing the controversial SB1070 which allows law enforcement officials to check an individuals’ immigration status.

Meanwhile supporters of the bill deny that its focus is on immigration.

“This is not about immigration, it’s only about public safety,” said Keith Gardner, Governor Martinez’s chief of staff. “There’s no desire to do immigration law,” he said. “The governor has said in public that we’re not in the business of doing immigration law.”