License debate resumes in house

Associated Press

Updated: Feb 3, 2012 5:32 PM

SANTA FE (AP) — A House panel faces a politically charged decision over whether to stop driver's licenses for illegal immigrants in New Mexico.

The Judiciary Committee is considering competing proposals at a meeting Friday.

(Update:  Late Friday afternoon attempts to produce compromise legislation failed, and the bill introduced by Rep. Andy Nunez, I-Hatch, to repeal licenses for illegal immigrants passed on a 9-6 vote and sent to the House.)

A measure backed by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez will scrap the state's current policy of granting licenses to illegal immigrants.

A proposal backed by many Democrats will continue to allow licenses to illegal immigrants but impose new restrictions including the fingerprinting of applicants.

More than 90,000 licenses have been issued to foreign nationals since 2003 when New Mexico eliminated a requirement for license applicants to have a Social Security number.

The governor contends there's widespread fraud in the current license system. Supporters of the current law say immigrants in New Mexico need licenses for jobs and school.

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