Real ID showdown: A House Republican's case
The Albuquerque Journal
By Rep. Paul Pacheco / Republican, Albuquerque
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016
After years of debate, it's time to settle the issue of giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. For years, New Mexicans have overwhelming voiced their demand that we end the dangerous practice of granting driver's licenses to people in this country illegally.
House Republicans have consistently fought to repeal the ill-conceived law that permitted illegal immigrants to obtain New Mexico driver's licenses, but Senate Democrats continue to insist that illegal immigrants be allowed to have driver's licenses identical to licenses issued to citizens and residents with lawful status.
New Mexico is one of only two states in the country that issues the same licenses to citizens and immigrants with lawful status, and illegal immigrants alike. As a result, New Mexico driver's licenses have become a black market commodity.
Criminal rings have come to New Mexico to obtain and distribute our driver's licenses to individuals across the country. In the past six months alone, the New Mexico Tax and Revenue Department has identified 199 cases of individuals residing outside of our state trying to get a New Mexico driver's license.
According to a report by the Pew Charitable Trusts, there are an estimated 70,000 unauthorized men, women and children in New Mexico. However, the New Mexico Tax and Revenue Department reports it has recorded 121,000 active driver's licenses issued to foreign nationals.
Where are those extra 59,000 drivers? Most likely, they are not in New Mexico.
It's past time to do something about this situation. So, Rep. Andy Nu+