NM immigrant driver's license debate intensifies
A legislative committee shelved her proposal Thursday and approved a Democratic-backed alternative. It allows illegal immigrants to continue getting licenses but for only two years before needing renewal. Currently, licenses can last four or eight years. The measure also increases penalties on license fraud.
The Labor and Human Resources Committee voted 5-4 on a party-line split for what Democrats described as a compromise proposal. Republicans opposed it.
The bill goes to another committee, and the governor may be able to push through her proposal if it reaches the full House, which approved it last year.
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Susana Martinez and her allies face a tough first test in the Legislature over their proposal to stop New Mexico from granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. The House Labor and Human Resources Committee is to consider the governor's proposal
After the rally, immigrant advocates and their allies went to lobby lawmakers. New Mexico is one of three states — including Washington and Utah — where illegal immigrants can get a driver's license because no proof of citizenship is required.
"Whether accidents or medical emergencies happen in the southern United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, or elsewhere, they can generate thousands of dollars in hospital or emergency room costs that are not covered by provincial health insurance," says
The "Buffett rule," named after her billionaire boss, aims to insure that wealthy taxpayers do not pay an effective tax rate lower than their secretaries. Buffett raised the specter that he pays less than his staff last year, arguing that millionaires
She is the plant manager at General Motors Orion Assembly and Pontiac Stamping, and is responsible for overseeing the production of the first new small car program from General Motors to be manufactured in the United States.
Immigrant families and allies rally at Roundhouse : Grassroots Press
HUNDREDS OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND ALLIES RALLY AT CAPITOL TO SUPPORT DRIVERS’ LICENSES LAW
Santa Fe, NM-Today at the state capitol, 500 immigrant families rallied along with community and faith organizations in support of the state law that enables immigrants without a social security number to apply for a driver’s license.
Participants included immigrant workers, students, and children from fifteen New Mexico counties, as well as representatives from a broad coalition of organizations that support licenses for immigrants including Somos Un Pueblo Unido, the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, ABQ Interfaith, the League of Women Voters, the NM Hispanic Bar Association, the NM Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and union members from Communications Workers of America 7076.
Rally goers carried signs that said “Public safety over politics” and “Create jobs, not fear,” while dozens of children stood in the backdrop wearing t-shirts that said “My mother is an immigrant. Keep our parents licensed.”
Roberto Sánchez, Board Member of Somos Un Pueblo Unido said, “The Governor’s administration is showing no compassion towards the children of immigrants who depend on their parents to get them to school safely. We live in mixed-status families, and her attack on the undocumented is an attack on all of us.”
Marcela Díaz, Executive of Somos Un Pueblo Unido said “The Legislature already tried moving this debate forward by proposing an alternative that both safeguards the public safety benefits of having all driver’s licensed and insured and that beefs up residency requirements and penalties for fraud. But the Administration has showed no sign of wanting to engage in a serious policy discussion on this issue. The Legislature shouldn’t be wasting its time on this when it has more pressing issues to deal with like the economy and jobs.”
In 2003, community and faith groups, victims’ rights advocates, and law enforcement officials came together to promote a law allowing all residents of New Mexico, regardless of immigration status, to apply for a driver’s license. Over the past eight years, about 90,000 foreign nationals have successfully applied, taken their eye, written and road exams, registered their vehicles and purchased auto insurance.