FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Angie Poss
(505) 720-5128
www.nmsenate.com
Santa Fe –The Senate Public Affairs Committee tabled Senate Bill 521, Two Tiered Drivers Licenses’ on a 5-3 party line vote on Tuesday evening.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Stuart Ingle (R, Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Lea, Roosevelt, District 27) introduced an amendment at the beginning of the hearing that, he said, was his own and not a product of discussions with the Governor. The amendment would have offered a “third tier” to the bill, a driving authorization card for “foreign nationals” that would be enforced similar to a driver’s license, but would expire after one year. After extensive explanation, the amendment was adopted by the committee.
The original bill would extend a distinctive license to those falling into the DACA, deferred action for child arrivals, category. The Obama Administration recently offered a pathway to citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented immigrant parents.
Testifying in favor of the bill, Taxation and Revenue Cabinet Secretary Demesia Padilla claimed that passage of this bill would rapidly bring the state into compliance with the Federal Real ID Act, as well as address the fraudulent rings that come to New Mexico to secure driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.
Committee member, Senator Tim Keller (D, Bernalillo, Disrict. 17) asked where the issue of driver’s license fraud was addressed in the bill, citing the fingerprinting and residency regulations in the driver’s license bill sponsored two years ago by former Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings. Senator Ingle admitted that he didn’t know if or how the bill would address fraud.
“In Chicago, they are basing their economic development around welcoming immigrants to the city,” Senator Keller said “Because of this issue, New Mexico is doing something very different. In my district, because of the rhetoric around driver’s licenses, immigrants in our communities are living in fear.
“They refuse to talk to me because I’m an elected official and they don’t know if I am trying to get them deported.”
Senator Jacob Candelaria (D, Bernalillo, District 26) took time during the debate to read racially driven comments written on the Governor’s Facebook page, praising her for trying to deport “those” people.
“We are creating two classes of citizens,” Senator Candelaria added. “The discrimination may not always be intended, but I cannot support this bill.”
The bill was tabled after many committee members praised the efforts of Senator Ingle.
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