New Mexico Republican Governor Martinez Attacks Law Allowing Undocumented to Obtain Drivers Licenses

SANTA FE, NM (By Zelie Pollon, Reuters) March 1, 2011 ― The nation's first female Hispanic governor has angered many Latinos with a proposal to repeal a New Mexico state law allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.

Newly-elected Governor Susana Martinez, a Republican who ran on a promise to get tough on undocumented immigration, this week added fuel to the fire by using leftover campaign funds to pay for a radio ad urging support for her repeal efforts.

"New Mexico is attracting people from around the world ― China, Poland, Brazil," the political spot says. "But they're not coming to ski, or for the balloon fiesta. They're undocumented immigrants coming for drivers licenses."

The ad, which aired throughout the week, urges listeners to call their legislators to complain.

The ad itself says the message was paid for by the Martinez gubernatorial campaign, which claimed a cash surplus of about $500,000 in its latest finance report.

The liberal advocacy group Common Cause and the immigrants' rights organization Somos un Pueblo Unido seized on the radio spots to accuse Martinez of violating campaign spending laws. The groups this week filed complaints with New Mexico's attorney general, the secretary of state and the Santa Fe district attorney.

State law generally limits the use of campaign funds to spending for campaign costs, campaign debts, donations to the state budget or charities, or to "expenditures of legislators that are reasonably related to performing the duties of the office held."

The attorney general's office is reviewing the complaint, a spokesman told Reuters. Bureau of Elections director Bobbi Shearer said her office also would look into the matter.

A spokesman for the governor, Danny Diaz, dismissed suggestions the radio spots were unlawful.

"It's ironic a radical special interest group that believes undocumented immigrants have a right to New Mexico's driver's licenses does not believe the governor has a right to free speech," Diaz said. "We disagree."

Martinez, a former prosecutor born to Mexican-American parents in Texas, made cracking down on undocumented immigration a centerpiece of her campaign for governor. She said one of her top priorities was repeal of a law passed under her Democratic predecessor, Bill Richardson, that allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.

While her stance irked many voters of Mexican descent, Martinez drew enough support among conservatives in the Latino community to win election in the heavily Hispanic state.

Still, her push for measures to outlaw driving privileges for undocumented immigrants has failed to gain much traction in the Democratic-controlled state legislature.

New Mexico State Legislature Republicans, Democrats split over issue

SANTA FE, NM (Katie Kim, KRQE) ― Three Senate Republicans tried to attach amendments that would revoke driver's licenses to illegal immigrants to unrelated SB 9, which applies to driving restrictions for young drivers, during Monday afternoon's floor session. But Senate Democrats voted against all the proposals, trumping their Republican counterparts in a vote of 25-14.

"We are the only state along the border that allow driver's licenses to illegal aliens," said Sen. John Ryan, R-Albuquerque. "Because this is such an important issue, it makes sense to bring it to the Senate floor and have everyone act on it."

Ryan's amendment required anyone who applied for a license to have a valid social security card.  Sen. William Sharer, R-Farmington, also introduced an amendment that would insert the wording, "removing provisions that allow foreign nationals to apply for driver's licenses," in SB 9.  Sen. Clinton Harden, R-Clovis, also wanted to require U.S. citizenship for anyone who applies for a driver's license.

Senate Democrats said tacking amendments to a bill on the floor was a "common ploy."

"They're putting an amendment on a bill that has nothing to do with it besides the word, 'driver's license,'" said Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque.  "The heart of the issue remains: if it's not broken, why are we trying to fIx it?"

Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, the sponsor of SB 9, opposed all the amendments, saying it changed the original purpose of his proposal.

Earlier this month, a House committee tabled Rep. Bill Rehm's so-called "compromise bill," that would issue illegal immigrants a driver's permit, not a license.  Gov. Martinez also opposed the compromise.
The state has issued driver's licenses to about 80,000 foreign nationals but not all of them are in the country illegally.