Amendments Provide 2 Year Reward for Lawlessness

Peter Wirth

The New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee approved amendments to House Driver's License Bill (HB-78) on Tuesday, March 8 that will provide a two year reward for lawlessness.  The sponsor of the amendments, Sen. Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe)email: peter.wirth@nmlegis.gov reportedly offered them as a "compromise" to the House Bill 78 carried by Andy Nunez. Senator Wirth and other Democrats in the Senate seem to be trying to argue their amendments address concerns about security and safety by increasing penalties and toughening proof of New Mexico residency. However none of their new provisions to Nunez bill are immediate. Sen. Wirth's amendments merely require the Motor Vehicle Department to identify people who were issued licenses without a Social Security number and notify them they must present valid documentation within two years or face license cancellation.
The reality of these amendments (by Senate Democrats) is to send the following message: If you decided to do an end run around people in line who are actually following U.S. immigration laws, and then you successfully sneaked past the Border Patrol checkpoints, when you show up at a New Mexico Department of Motor Vehicle office seeking a license that will give you the appearance of BEING SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT VIOLATED OUR LAWS, your pattern of illegal behavior will be rewarded by the State of New Mexico. This state will sell you for a nominal fee the valuable evidence of legitimacy you need to remain here illegally, vote, and....... the state will also grant you a two-year documentation requirement waiver. This is not "compromise," it is sleight of hand. Some Senate Democrats seem to be doing everything they can to ignore 80% of the citizens who have made their views clear on law-breaking. They should stop creating excuses to reward lawlessness in any way.

Amendments Provide 2 Year Reward for Lawlessness