House passes bill rescinding driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants; heads to Senate now
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Although the debate lasted just over three hours — instead of the six-plus hours from last year — and the rhetoric from at least one opponent was inflammatory, the House of Representatives on Wednesday (Feb. 8th) passed a bill on a 45-25 vote to repeal the law in New Mexico that grants driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants.
Just as he did in last year’s 60-day legislative session, Rep. Andy Nuñez (I-Hatch) carried the bill (House Bill 103) that Republican Gov. Susana Martinez says is necessary to ensure public safety but opponents say singles out Hispanics and encourages undocumented workers to go into hiding.
Before the vote, Rep. Nuñez predicted the margin of victory would be wider than it was last year and he was right, as the measure picked up three more Democrats than it did in 2011. But getting the state Senate to pass the bill onto Gov. Martinez will be a much tougher hurdle to clear as the Senate has a solid 28-14 edge in Democrats.
“We’re going to have to work on the Senate,” Nuñez said after the floor session. “We had a pretty wide margin here, 45-25, and I think they [senators] should be considering that. Whether they will or not, it’s hard to say.”
“Our community’s future is at stake,” Elsa López of the immigrants rights group Somos Un Pueblo Unidos said after the vote, adding that she thinks if HB103 becomes law it will lead to a series of other laws aimed at undocumented workers. “This is a repeat of Arizona,” López said.
But the chief of staff for Gov. Martinez flatly rejected that. “The governor has said this isn’t about immigration,” Keith Gardner said after the vote. “We have no desire to do that [imitate bills introduced in Arizona]. We are not in the business of doing immigration law. That’s a federal issue.”
During Wednesday’s debate, supporters of HB103 beat back a number of substitutes from Democrats that tried to offer variations on the bill, such as provisions allowing illegal immigrants to drive in the state with permits that could not be used for identification purposes or allowing undocumented workers to drive but tightening restrictions and instituting fingerprinting to avoid fraud.
“Lawful status — that’s the issue,” said Rep. Dennis Roch (R-Texico), comparing the proposed changes to sleights of hand. “I’m not going to fall for the illusion and I don’t think the people of New Mexico will either.”
At the end of the debate Rep. Miguel Garcia (D-Albuquerque) spoke for more than 20 minutes in his opposition to HB103. Rep. Garcia, who gained some attention last month when he sent out a letter decrying a redistricting judge’s ruling as “return to Jim Crow 21[st] century style,” said there’s “a campaign of hate” surrounding such measures.
Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas (D-Albuquerque) then blasted supporters of bill, saying “If you tell a lie … people will start saying it, then they will start to believe it,” comparing their actions to the “propaganda ministers of Nazi Germany.”
We asked Nuñez about that comment after the vote:
All of the Republicans in the House voted for HB103, along with 11 Democrats.
Here are the 11 D’s who voted for the Nuñez bill:
Ray Begaye of Shiprock
Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces
George Dodge of Santa Rosa
Dona Irwin of Deming
Sandra Jeff of Crownpoint
Rhonda King of Stanley
Patricia Lundstrom of Gallup
Al Park of Albuquerque
Debbie Rodella of Española
Henry “Kiki” Saavedra of Albuquerque, who said “Shame, shame on New Mexico” after last year’s vote
Nick Salazar of Ohkay Ohwingeh
Posted under Capitol Report.
Tags: Al Park, Andy Nunez, Antonio Moe Maestas, Debbie Rodella, Dennis Roch, Dona Irwin, driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, Elsa Lopez, George Dodge, HB103, Henry "kiki" Saavedra, House Bill 103, Joseph Cervantes, Keith Gardner, Miguel Garcia, Nick Salazar, Patricia Lundstrom, Ray Begaye, Rhonda King, Sandra Jeff, Susana Martinez
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N.M. House sends immigrant driver's license bill to Senate
[...] Senate nowby Marla on February 8, 2012 in Illegal Immigration, Tom Tancredo with No comments Via: New Mexico Watchdog, By Rob Nikolewski Although the debate lasted just over three hours — instead of the six-plus [...]
11:21 pm on February 8th, 2012
New Immigration Laws: Read to the bottom or you will miss the message…
1 There will be no bilingual programs in the schools.
2. All ballots will be in this nation’s language.
3. All government business will be conducted in our language.
4. Non-residents will NEVER have the right to vote.
5. Non-citizens will NEVER hold political office.
6. No welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs.
7. Minimum foreign investment 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.
8. Owning prime real estate is reserved for natives.
9. Foreigners may not protest, demonstrate, wave a foreign flag, politically organize or bad-mouth our president or his policies.
10. If you’re illegal, you will be hunted & sent to jail until you are deported. All assets will be taken from you.
Too strict?……
The above laws are the current immigration laws of MEXICO !
11:27 pm on February 8th, 2012
This is so crazy…what is the deal. Why would someone who is here illegally be able to get a drivers license or anything else for that matter? They are breaking the law by being here and we should reward them?? Really?
We really need to get our acts together and deport the illegals and put up a real border wall (not fence)!!
12:44 am on February 9th, 2012
My sign looks so much better than that one on the left when you view the page.
Anyway, today is a great day in New Mexico. Law makers did the right thing, and they put the people over their party. It is great to see this much support for repealing this foolish law.
I’m hoping the Senate will do the same, if not we can just vote them out… until they realize New Mexicans are sick and tired of the Political games.
12:45 am on February 9th, 2012
Here is a list of the 25 , all of whom are Dems, who voted against HB 103. Hopefully voters will remember them come November:
Eliseo Alcon, Milan
Gail Chasey, Albuquerque
Eleanor Chavez, Albuquerque
Ernest Chavez, Albuquerque
Brian Egolf, Santa Fe
Mary Garcia, Las Cruces
Miguel Garcia, Albuquerque
Thomas Garcia, Ocate
Roberto Gonzales, Taos
Joni Gutierrez, Mesilla
Antonio Lujan, Las Cruces
Ben Lujan, Santa Fe
James Madalena, Jemez Pueblo
Antonio Maestas, Albuquerque
Rodolpho Martinez, Bayard
Ken Martinez, Grants
Rick Miera, Albuquerque
Bill O’Neill, Albuquerque
Danice Picraux, Albuquerque
Edward Sandoval, Albuquerque
Sheryl Stapleton, Albuquerque
Mimi Stewart, Albuquerque
Jim Trujillo, Santa Fe
Luciano Varela, Santa Fe
Richard Vigil, Ribera
2:49 am on February 9th, 2012
i was involved in an accident involving 11 ILLEGALS (NOT UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS GANG BANGERS MS 13 MEMBERS) the illegals had more rights than i did and i was told by the cal highway patrol “this is waht we deal with all day and every day” i was also told by the CHP THAT THE ILLEGAL ALIENS (NOT UNDOCUMENT WORKERS AKA GANG BANGING MS 13 MEMBERS) WERE NOT GOING TO BE DEPORTED!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WHY REWARD CRIMINALS TAKE BACK AMERICA WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME I STAND WITH ARIZONA
6:40 am on February 9th, 2012
Why do you need a law saying illegal immigrants can’t get a license? Isn’t that a given? And what AMERICAN would be against restricting ILLEGAL immigrants getting a driver’s license. What don’t they understand about the word ILLEGAL. Try getting one in another country if you’re THERE illetgally.
Are people really THAT stupid? How did those morons get elected? By ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS with voting rights? There are NINETEEN on that list who have Spanish last names. Oh, I get it…take care o’ they homies.
Figures. Personally, I feel if you’re caught sneaking into the U.S. you get SHOT and left to rot!
8:06 am on February 9th, 2012
Illegal. That is the Key Word Here. Someone WHO BROKE a law.. Is Breaking a law – By living everyday where they should not be- unless they followed a procedure that millions do every year. There are reasons why these laws were put in place for Immigration. Why do the citizens of the USA or New Mexico have to follow any of the other LAWS if there is no enforcement of Illegal Immigration?
9:41 am on February 9th, 2012
I find this to be madness! People are here illegally Should not get ANYTHING! yet they are giving Drivers license, free schooling, foodstamps, medical, housing, and the americans are having everything taken from them little by little. But I guess thats no biggie is it. Everything was taken from the Indian by by our standers of today “Illegal” So I guess it will just keep happening till America is ran by people who shouldn’t even be here!
10:01 am on February 9th, 2012
NOTE : Those that voted against HB 103 are probably proffiting from having illegals driving ,, either working at slave labor wages for them OR have a cute chica for a play toy .. Voters need to remember when these clowns are asking for their votes !,and send them to the cesspool . NOTICE the clown Tomas Garcia from Las Vegas ,NM aka ( Ocate ,NM ) voted against the4 bill LOL
The other clown Richard Vigil , Ribera follow suit !!
11:20 am on February 9th, 2012
To all those who oppose such legislation: You’re looking at this wrong. You think these laws are doing something to you; they’re actually doing something for US. You are not the victim here! WE ARE!!
11:28 am on February 9th, 2012
Well,look, I can see giving a license to some poor,struggling well intentioned Hispanic lady with 2 kids who left Honduras because of drug violence initiated because of our countryś insatiable desire for illicit substances and if I was in her place I would probably be doing the same (moving here, legally or not).
But everyone or maybe most of those who want to come are not this lady. And it is naive to assume they are. Gang violence is spreading across the border and some of this liberal, possibly well intentioned but naive bullshit is nothing if not destructive to our way of life, unless you want Albuquerque to turn into Juarez.
11:33 am on February 9th, 2012
I second all your comments so far. Antonio “Moe” Maestas continues in his childish hate speech against people WHO WANT THE LAWS ENFORCED!!!!! Against EVERYONE equally!!! There is one lawless zone for the elite – legislators, judges, their lawyer buddies who donate, politicians, state employees — then another for the illegals they want to protect to keep to use for their benefit. Then there are the rest of us…..
2:52 pm on February 9th, 2012
I have to tell you Rep.Maestas is a bit of an imbecile if he thinks wanting to enforce the law and stop undocumented immigrants from getting drivers’ licenses makes people Nazis. I would like to take him and dump him, undocumented, in virtually any country in Central or South America and see how he fares without papers.
And what would be particularly interesting, I would really like to see him try lecturing the police in Brazil or Argentina or Venezuela about their storm trooper like behavior in his undoubtedly foreign sounding (to them) spanish (assuming he speaks spanish) and watch what then ensues.
8:29 pm on February 9th, 2012
It seems the only states that are still part of the United States are, in the lead… Arizona, following with Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina…. the unemployment rate has gone down since they’ve started ridding their states of illegals, the average citizen can now actually “get” a job. Employment goes up… welfare goes down, and people are again spending hard earned money in local bsnss’. Less inmates in overcrowded jails, less kids in overcrowded schools… so our kids actually get more one on one with the teachers. What is there not to understand about this??? Common sense is shared among the middle and lower class that have to work for a living… the upper class rich snobs are the only ones who want to keep them here, so they can keep their caviar (sorry for spelling, I’ve never seen it), in their kitch. for their illegal maids to serve with the silver spoons that the real american citizens would just as soon shove down their throats! How ’bout if the rich that want to keep the illegals here for slave labor all move to mexico… then we could all be happy!!!
8:45 pm on February 9th, 2012
It is becoming more evident daily which Legislators identify more with Chihuahua, Sonora, and other points South-than they do with New Mexico and the United States. If the Senate fails to carry this restriction on giving driver’s licenses to illegals, surely the voters will push new buttons in November and send these ex-patriot legislators South. Hope Mexico will give them a driver’s license.
9:49 am on February 11th, 2012
These states are admitted into the “FEDERAL UNION” on an equal standing with Soverignty, Freedom and Independance. now, most of you need to go back to school and re-do your education on the USA and the U.S. thats why they had a right to travel because not everywere is the U.S. retard.
it’s no wonder the U.S. Citizen is being duped into believing that a 12 trillion dollar debt is theirs. can you be any more STUPID.
2:30 pm on February 15th, 2012
It is so sad that in this day in age many are still so simple minded. what many fail to realize is that many of the “illegals” were brought here as CHILDREN by their parents, and raised here. many have families with there own children here, and still can not become legal.They just need to drive.Not all are criminals! Imagine being torn from your family simply for driving.Stop the hate!