DerailAmnesty.com
11-08-2010, 10:50 AM
N.M. governor-elect says 'no' to Ariz.-style immigration law
New Mexico's newly elected governor, Susana Martinez, said this weekend that she doesn't want an Arizona-style immigration law in her state.
"No, no, I don't want that for New Mexico," Martinez, a Republican, said on Univision.
She went on to stress that she will try to repeal a state law that allows illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. The driver's license law was a top issue in her campaign against Democrat Diane Denish.
"Around 80 percent of people in New Mexico don't want the people who are here illegally to have a driver's license. They want to ensure that those who get licenses are from the United States," Martinez said, according to an English translation of the Univision interview that aired Sunday.
Under the controversial Arizona law, a law enforcement officer is required to determine someone's immigration status if that person is stopped, detained or arrested and there is "reasonable suspicion" they are in the U.S. illegally.
A federal judge struck down some provisions of the Arizona law and issued a preliminary injunction halting its enforcement.
New Mexico, Washington and Utah allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses because state law does not require proof of citizenship or legal residency.
Martinez is currently district attorney for the New Mexico county that includes Las Cruces. She is the first Latina Republican elected governor.
New Mexico's newly elected governor, Susana Martinez, said this weekend that she doesn't want an Arizona-style immigration law in her state.
"No, no, I don't want that for New Mexico," Martinez, a Republican, said on Univision.
She went on to stress that she will try to repeal a state law that allows illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. The driver's license law was a top issue in her campaign against Democrat Diane Denish.
"Around 80 percent of people in New Mexico don't want the people who are here illegally to have a driver's license. They want to ensure that those who get licenses are from the United States," Martinez said, according to an English translation of the Univision interview that aired Sunday.
Under the controversial Arizona law, a law enforcement officer is required to determine someone's immigration status if that person is stopped, detained or arrested and there is "reasonable suspicion" they are in the U.S. illegally.
A federal judge struck down some provisions of the Arizona law and issued a preliminary injunction halting its enforcement.
New Mexico, Washington and Utah allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses because state law does not require proof of citizenship or legal residency.
Martinez is currently district attorney for the New Mexico county that includes Las Cruces. She is the first Latina Republican elected governor.