We think you're near Los Angeles

Incoming New Mexico governor vows to revoke licenses issued to illegal aliens

New Mexico Gov.-elect Susana Martinez
New Mexico Gov.-elect Susana Martinez
Photo credit: 
CNN

When New Mexico Governor-elect Susana Martinez takes office in a few weeks, one of her first priorities is to revoke the thousands of drivers’ licenses which have been issued by her state to illegal aliens in recent years.

In the wake of Arizona’s passage of SB1070, illegal aliens have been flocking to the states of New Mexico as the state does not currently require proof of citizenship to obtain a license.

Under open-borders advocate, Gov. Bill Richardson, New Mexico went even further and passed a law banning DMV clerks from asking an applicant if they are in the country legally.

The policy has made New Mexico a favorite with human smugglers and those who make their living from selling fraudulent documents.

A recent AP study examined data from the New Mexico DMV and found a surge in licenses issued to immigrants (both legal and illegal). In fact, there was an increase of 60 percent over those from the previous year, during a 10-week period following the passage of Arizona’s new immigration law.

The number of licenses issued to citizens during that same period, did not increase.

The following results were taken directly from the study:

— New Mexico issued 10,257 licenses to immigrants through the first six months of 2010, compared with 13,481 for all of 2009. The pace has intensified since April, when neighboring Arizona passed its immigration law. The figures include both illegal immigrants and legal residents from outside the U.S.

— New Mexico issued about 417 licenses a week to immigrants from the day after Arizona passed its law through July 1. That is a big jump from the 323 per week it was issuing from Jan. 1 to the day before the law passed.

In a recent CNN interview, Gov. Martinez said: “My focus has been on removing the driver's licenses and revoking those that have already been issued.”

She continued: “I don't support amnesty… there has to be some other way of dealing with the issue. It may be we identify individuals but we cannot just have a path to citizenship created when there are people in line already doing the proper things.”

Martinez is a former Democrat and district attorney who is a favorite with Tea Party supporters.

Advertisement

, Immigration Reform Examiner

Dave Gibson, a former legislative aide to a state senator, has been working as a freelance writer for many years. His work has been published in many newspapers and magazines including the Washington Times. He believes that the issue of illegal immigration is the most pressing issue of our time...

Comments

  • zoo1 1 year ago

    Legal Mexicans bring their illegal brethren to protests and parades to gang-scream "racial profiling". More than sixty percent of legal Mexicans claim they are suspect because of their race. Every New Mexico driver's license issued under Richardson's scam is SUSPECT wherever they are examined by authorities, especially in other states. So, Mexicans and others from New Mexico are now being profiled for their state of residency. While Richardson hoped that licenses for illegals would assist them to become hopelessly entombed in the U.S., he has painted a target on their domes.

  • skipperrc 1 year ago

    ithey don't need license. they drive without a license.. rights for illegals? the constitution guarantees the rights for united states citizens.they constitution does not guarantee rights for foreigners in other countries. it is not the constitution of mexico or any other country. you don't like it , your country is so great then get the hell back home.

  • DHGT 1 year ago

    Just Awsome, I completly Agree with you Skipperrc

  • BOB 1 year ago

    WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE LICENS AWAY!!!!!?????

  • vanzorge 1 year ago

    good for gov martinez !!!

  • mike allsopp 1 year ago

    Good, let New Mexico have them...

  • Profile picture of BIG JIM
    BIG JIM 1 year ago

    Here's what giving licenses to illegals gets you:

    http://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/14/local/la-me-motorcycle-crash-201...

  • highm41@yahoo.comI 1 year ago

    I ALSO AM AN AMERICA MEXICAN WHO IS A PATRIOT AND FOUGHT FOR RIGHTS SINCE THE 60'S AND NOT ONLY IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT BUT FOR THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT FOR WE SEE NO COLOR OR RACE, FOR WE SEE AMERICA THE LAND WHICH WAS FOUNDED BY OUR GOOD GOD WHO CAME AS A MAN TO SAVE US IN THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST. SUSANA MARTINEZ SEEMS TO BE A GREAT AMERICAN AND I PRAY AND HOPE THAT IT IS SO FOR SHE SHOULD KNOW THAT GOOD AND EVIL COME IN ALL COLORS AND RACES. SHE MUST ALSO WARN THE ILLEGAL AND LEGAL MEXICANS THAT THEIR LIVES ARE IN DANGER OF BEING EXTINCT FOR MOST OF THEM ARE CHRISTIANS AND THE RADICAL HATEFUL ISLAMISTS ARE HATERS OF CHRISTIANS. PLEASE WARN OUR PEOPLE BECAUSE I AM FOR CHRIST FIRST. GOD HELP US ALL FOR EVIL IS SET LOOSE IN OUR COUNTRY.

  • walrus 1 year ago

    New Mexico is a farming state...I'm sure Martinez is going to have a "good" impact on that state's economy....maybe Texas can pick New Mexico up in a yard sale in a few years after Martinez screws it up.

  • bob cook 1 year ago

    So what if they are a farming state. The illegals that work I think are valuable to the economy but to have run away illegal immigration not to mention incentives like drivers licenses is NUTS. They can now illegally vote for the politician that is going to give them what they want. Doesn't anyone else see how dangerous this is to a democracy? Wipe out the middle class with ever increasing taxes and we will be living in a third world country.

  • Kelly 1 year ago

    Mexicans obtain visas to come to this country to pick crops. You hear every year that the crops are dying in the fields because there is nobody willing to pick them. Most Mexicans do not come here to pick crops, they come here to take the good paying jobs that Americans desperatley need. I am half Native American and half German, my family was migrant farms workers. I spent a large part of my childhood picking crops with my family. In the 70s things changed. I was a poorly educated as a result of moving so much as a child, so when I went to work could only find low wage jobs. I would work in the fields during the summer to supliment my income and support my family. In the late 70s more Mexicans began to show up in the fields and after a few years they became aggresive to people other than other Mexicans. It was no longer safe to go into the fields to pick crops. I saw this happen for myself and know it is the truth. If you question this than answer this question. Before the Mexicans arrived in such great numbers who do you think picked the crops? It was fellow Americans. Americans were bullied out of the fields by Mexicans.

  • Eggman 1 year ago

    goo goo ga joog dumazz!!

  • nevadan 1 year ago

    There are legal ways for immigrants to come to the US for work. They just don't want to get in line. That is the real issue and frustration. The US should be able to monitor their borders and decide who gets in and who doesn't - just like every other country in the world.

  • Brandy 1 year ago

    I don't agree with everything Gov Martinez may propose in the future (YES I voted for her) but I think she has a good start with this idea. I'm sure there will be many who may think this same way as time goes by and we see changes in New Mexico after Gov Richardson.

  • Robin 1 year ago

    Kelly, I agree with you whole heartedly. I was raised in a little town just east of Los Angeles in the sixties, though I was not a farm worker, I was the victim of the hispanics at my school and on the streets. You see I was the minority in that town, they did not want white people moving there. Now I live in NW Arkansas, and I get the same thing in the big super centers. They are not friendly and go out of their way to be rude. I have never been prejudiced towards any body even after the treatment that I have received, but I do believe that the government started way too late on this immigration issue. I know it is hind site now, but I believe our constitution gives us rights, and if your in this country illegally and it does not matter how long, you should have gone through the channels to live in our country, like others that have received their citizenship's, they earned it. My great grand father came from Hungary in 1877 as an immigrant, earned his citizenship by joining our army, fought in our wars, protected his city in Chicago as a police officer. Maybe these border hoppers should be put on the borders to protect our country from the drug cartels earn their right to be here.

  • ALoneStarTexan 1 year ago

    Walrus, Texas doesn't want New Mexico.

    Besides.. Our lawmakers are considering a law similar to Arizona's anyways.

  • Dominguez 1 year ago

    Good for Governor Martinez, I hope she is successful in doing this...it is about time the states started to protect their own borders. Washington is not going to do it...

  • alfred 1 year ago

    detodos modos los illegales hacen de su vida mas plena por que si no fuera por los mexicanos,chinos,africanos,ingleses,centro americanos,sud americanos,y todas las razas del mundo que estan aqui no fuera posible la supervivnecia de estados unidos como pais asi es que piensele dos beses antes de apoyar medidas racistas que lo unico que hacen es unir mas ala jente del resto del mundo que no tienen papeles en este pais y que des de los ynicios los imigrantes an estado aqui por que es de estos este pais y para el ano 2020 seran la minoria mayoritaria de todo los estados unidos,y seran mas lo mexicanos que estaran a qui asi es que solo el tiempo les hara caer en razon quien es quien y que es de quien....

  • bazasho 1 year ago

    To begin with, yes we have immigrants from all over the world and we welcome them.....as legal immigrants. It is not "racist" to expect people to enter our country legally and to respect our laws. You cannot compare today's illegal immigrants to the immigrants that were welcomed at Ellis Island. Alfred are you trying to say that illegal immigrants will be in the majority by 2020? Do you live in the U.S. and refuse to use English?

  • Red, white and fed up 1 year ago

    speak and type english, this is America!!!! or don't speak, the choice is yours

  • nateforrest 1 year ago

    This is a prime example of the problem we face..... failure of many immigrants to lawfully intersect and immerse themselves into the traditions of America. I fully support the Governor elect on this issue.

  • Eagle 1 year ago

    Sorry, Alfred, I only speak English. After all, this IS America. If you have something to say to us, do it in English. Unlike some, I never learned a foreign language. Why? Because I never had any intentions of ever leaving MY country.

  • Nick 1 year ago

    Alfred, You must have Sh*t for brains ?? This is the United States of America !! We speak english here dip sh*t. You and your racist La Raza buddies are not going to reclaim the southwestern US for Mexico. I'll see that you and racist LaRaza buddies are buzzard feed before that happens. You lost the war get over it !!!

  • big mo 1 year ago

    we speak english in this country

  • GShepDad 1 year ago

    Alfred.
    I speak English, Arabic and Korean. I learned Arabic and Korean when I lived in Saudi Arabia & Korea as a legal resident and on military duty. I learned to function in those societies as the onus is on Immigrants to learn English in which ALL of our Founding Documents were written.

    Many of my Anglo ancestors predate Ellis Island and some predated the founding of the United States but they all were recognized and SWORE allegiance and assimilated into this nation. Illegal ALIENS do nothing of the sort.

  • No.to.amnesty 1 year ago

    It's EXACTLY that type of attutude that makes Americans NOT want to help you. Keep it up, and the push on politicians by the American public will be so overwhelming, that they will have no choice other than to pass laws to get ALL of you deported.

  • JustLurkin 1 year ago

    The only trouble with illegal aliens is they try to bring the failed ideas with them that they are running from. That's kinda stupid if they were actually looking for something better for their life.
    ======================================================================
    El único problema con los extranjeros ilegales que tratan de llevar las ideas no con los que están corriendo. Eso es un poco estúpido si en realidad estaban buscando algo mejor para su vida.

  • Kelly Anderson Wright 1 year ago

    This is how we stem illegal immigration: take away the freebies. Drivers licenses are a great place for NM to start, way to go Gov. Martinez! Can you blame them with the influx of illegals fleeing AZ? States' Rights Rule, baby! ~ Reno Conservative Examiner

  • Dean DaCosta 1 year ago

    Just waiting to hear how Harry Reid et al try to paint Governor elect Martinez as some kind of right wing bigot and Latino hater.

  • nevadan 1 year ago

    I think you can expect great things from Nevada's new Governor Brian Sandoval who also ran on a campaign to get rid of illegal aliens. I suppose they will all have to move to California.

  • Timothy Archer 1 year ago

    I forgot to vote, but I'm glad people with at least some good ideas were elected...
    Let's hope the trend continues.

  • Donna Taylor 1 year ago

    Timothy......I hope this is a lesson to you.....NEVER forget to VOTE again!! ;) NM is on the right track....times have changed and so must we.

  • LD 1 year ago

    How do you forget to vote? Are you that disengaged with what is going on around you?

  • nateforrest 1 year ago

    If someone is stupid enough to "forget" to vote it is probably best you continue this trend. You have also forfeited your right to publicly express your opinion. What a dolt!

  • Gunny2862 1 year ago

    When you go overseas you either need an international license (not that hard to get - I've had them) but never have I had a Host nations drivers license card. One, it tells the local authorities that you aren't a local (although for me it was pretty obvious say, in Okinawa) Two it preserve their Sovereignty because you can't try to use the document to do anything else in their country. So why don't we do the same thing - Liberals are always trying to get us to do the things other countries do?

  • Profile picture of VivaLaMigra
    VivaLaMigra 1 year ago

    Great to have an elected officlal who places her priorities where they belong by honoring her oath of office. Nowhere in the NM state constitution does it say illegal aliens are exempt from US immigration laws. It's High Time they were held to account. If illegals fleeing AZ can't settle in neighboring NM then I guess the next stops are either Colorado or Texas. I would suggest CO as the new governor "Hickenloopy" is a push-over for illegals. Rick Perry in Texas isn't a lot better...or, from the perspective of an illegal alien, much "worse!"

  • ccollins 1 year ago

    Thank you, Governor Martinez!
    It makes no sense to issue licenses to people here illegally, especially when the Transportation Security Agency is practically undressing citizens before they board a flight. Former Gov. Richardson ignored the very real terrorism threat to all who reside in this great country. He has also contributed to the immigration chaos. I'm tired of the chaos. All countries should be able to control their borders.

  • get out 1 year ago

    now she needs to put the former gov in jail

  • Greenie 1 year ago

    It's funny when people say something like "this is America, speak English or gtfo." If you're American and haven't read the Constitution, you should be ashamed. Freedom of speech, hello? Hola? Merhaba? Konichiwa? I should feel free to speak whatever language I please not only in this country, but in any part of the world.

    Anyway, I think this is a great move for NM. You can't handout driver's licenses to just anybody.

  • Robin 1 year ago

    Maybe you should read the Constitution yourself. Freedom of Speech doesn't mean you can speak in your own language. You dope. It is the 1st Amendment in the Bill of Rights so it should not take you long to read through it.

  • Eagle 1 year ago

    Feel free to speak any language you choose anywhere in the world but when people you are talking to can't understand a word you're saying, then what do you do? Tell them to learn a new language so they can? Idiot!

  • clark 1 year ago

    If you travel far enough into our galaxy, earth totaly dissapears. Don't trip too much on hate lets just try to fix the problem for all the world to live confortable. I know it's complicated, but hey we're only here for about 70-80 years. In cosmic time that is not even a blink of an eye. Most humans are very fragile and scared, even tough we don't show it. But we're helpless. Look at yourself in the mirror totally naked and see how hopeless and helpless we look. We don't even have claws!!! We have a brain.......Yeah that's been doing us a lot of good.....I was reading a newspaper from 1800's. It's the same complaints. Greasy Italians, irish, germans, scotish, chinese, japs. I'll tell you what! we're going to be in deep crapp if the mexican decide to go with the extremist muslims. Then we're going to be sorry we ever came to their continent. Before you comment. Yes I'm ignorant and arrogant too. Just like most people with that organ called "BRAIN"

  • Jesus.. 1 year ago

    Dude you are 100% right .....!!!!!!

  • Chavez Sr, 1 year ago

    A blast from the past; before we were born and the settlers came, the Incas, Aztec"s,Apatchies,Navaho"s and the Spanish decendants and other Natives lived here and worked this land because it was thier land, the settlers drew a line and started taking from everyone today many people still draw lines and claim what is not theirs, today everything is more technical in many things such as "thier Illigal Immagrants they are drug dealers" instead of stereo typing and pointing a finger and calling the people you dont understand Immagrants, try calling them your neighbor and loving them, not all people are bad or abuse a so called privledge in the united states, every race has its good and not so good, The bigger picture: instead of pulling Driving licences try offering someone a ride, or a cup of coffee, I guarentee if you were broke down on side of the road sure enough," the people you dont understand would be the ones to help or give you a ride. Note for the day, anyone can speak in thier native language nobody owns anyone, the arrogant people should open up there eyes to the real picture in life, and what time is spent on hating people, everyone will leave this Earth and we cant take our driving licence or a cup of haterade with us some will need Ice with that cup of haterade, Pick your head up and deal with real Issues of life instead of drawing lines like the settlers.

  • Profile picture of Just a girl
    Just a girl 1 year ago

    I think it makes everyone feel all warm and fuzzy to think that the Governor will be "doing something" about illegal immigration. But emotional reactions tend to negate logic. You will not curb the influx of illegal immigrants by not giving them drivers' licenses. What you will only do is now increase the amount of driver's on the street driving with no car insurance. So, next time you are a victim of a hit and run, or even if the driver were to stay but has no coverage and you now have to claim it on your insurance - just remember why. I'm not saying nothing should be done - if you want to curb illegal immigration, you stop giving people reasons to come, meaning you go after the companies that employ them. Because as long as there is some sort of draw to come here, they will come. Someone that risks their lives to crossover the border would not let a drivers license stop them. You can get angry and stomp your feet and ask "what part of illegal don't you understand" but at the end of the day, a Governor should want to protect her citizens and in this, I think she has put them more at risk. Trust me, as long as there is money to be earned, people will come. They may have to hide more in the shadows - but for the 100th time, they will come. So talk all you want about people being illegal and not deserving or having the rights to a license but by ignoring the logic of allowing it because of your anger over the situation, you fail to solve the problem. You have to deal with the way things are and not the way you wish them to be or nothing ever really gets done. You can flame me or type all the nasty things you want, but this is the reality of the situation and I'm just being honest. This is already a problem where I am from - several of my friends have had this happen to them, the driver takes off because he has no license and is not insured...so what does he have to lose? If he stays, maybe he risks deporation. Just think about it.

  • MarioH 1 year ago

    Justagirl,

    This is part 1 of 3.

    I'm not here to flame you at all. I do however, have to strongly disagree with your logic. For one, illegal aliens should not be able to possess any drivers license. Have you yourself gone to another country outside the U.S.? In order to get a drivers license from any other country such as the U.K., Philippines, U.A.E., you need a passport and any other documentation that states you are a LEGAL immigrant of that nation. If you do not have any such paperwork/documentation then no license can be issued.

    As for uninsured illegal alien drivers, they too should not be insured. The only group which benefits from illegal drivers having insurance is the insurance companies, which I honestly believe should not be issuing insurance to people who do not have the appropriate documentation to be in the country to begin with.

    Not only that but as it stems now, even illegal aliens who do have auto insurance are more than likely not to stick around (hit and run) for any accident they are involved, considering they stand the chance of meeting police officers who may or may not report them to ICE.

    As for your comments about getting to the businesses who are hiring them which is their whole main reason for coming here is very true and I agree with you 100%. We truly need to crack down on these businesses but I would like to take it one step further.

  • MarioH 1 year ago

    Part 2 of 3.

    I would also make it harder for these remittance companies to send money which was illegally earned in the U.S. If you are up on current matters, quite a number of South American countries rely heavily on money remittance sent to family members back home in the illegals country. Mexico's second greatest income into the country other than the export of oil, which is first, is money remittance sent from the U.S. into Mexico.

    Now if the Remittance Companies who are profiting from the whole illegal matter were to be held to a stricter regulation. For example, such as requiring a valid passport or valid drivers license before any money can be remitted out of the U.S., than I am sure this would discourage and make it a bit more difficult for any illegal to send money home.

    As I currently see it now in California, more and more illegals are riding bicycles. Why you may ask? It is because California requires a valid social security card before issuing any drivers license. These social security numbers are verified before any drivers licenses are issued nowadays.

    So just a break down.

    1. Take away the jobs.
    2. Take away the ability to send money home.
    3. Make it tougher to rent or purchase a home.
    4. Make it tougher to purchase a used car.
    5. Have more ICE (checkpoints) similar to DUI checkpoints.

  • MarioH 1 year ago

    Part 3 of 3

    With all these in mind, I would think it could make a great start at curbing the massive influx of illegal aliens in the U.S.

    What do you think?

  • clark 1 year ago

    Actually Robin, why don't you speak "native american". English is not the native language of this continent. The more stupid comments that you and others make like that, the more the world hates the U.S not America but the U.S. Sooner or later we'll pay for our ignorance. We probably wont, but our children will. And they also will hate us for it......Now go brush your green teeth.

  • sandman 1 year ago

    WTG Governor Martinez -- i voted for you because you seemed like you would do some good for us here in new mex -- i hope you dont disapoint us -- because we need your help to start deporting all illegals from our state -- thats a first good move to revoke licenses next is to start deporting them,, when they try and sign up for welfare -- or at the emergency room --and when they apply for jobs -- then start fining all employers who do hire them -- if you cut off the jobs and freebies they we start to self deport there only here for the hand outs -- and if they will be put in jail if found here that will make a big diff also hey we have alot of bad roads that need fixing maybe they could do a year on the road gang then be deported to pay for all there trouble

Pages

Add a new comment

Join the conversation! Log in here or create a new account if you've never registered before.

Got something to say?

Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!

Don't miss...