House vote denies licenses for illegals

SANTA FE (KRQE) - The New Mexico House voted late Friday to effectively deny drivers licenses for illegal immigrants reversing what had been state policy.

If approved in the Senate and signed into law, foreign nationals in the country legally still could apply for a New Mexico driver's license.

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The 42-28 vote came shortly after 6 p.m. ending two days of debate that came only after Rep. Andy Nuñez, I-Hatch, successfully blasted his bill from a House committee where it had been tabled and brought it to the House floor.

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Five hours and counting as Friday's heated debate over the controversial practice of issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants continues on the floor of the New Mexico House.

And lawmakers are expecting it to be a long night on the second day of an exhausting debate. Friday's debate follows a six-hour debate on Thursday.

But the twist on Friday came when some Democrats introduced their own substitute bill that would continue issuing licenses to people without a Social Security number but would impose stricter penalties.

Shortly before 4 p.m., however, that measure was tabled on a 36-34 vote.

The original bill on the floor was introduced by Rep. Andy Nuñez of Hatch who began the 60-day session as a Democrat before becoming the body's lone Independent. Until Thursday it had been bottled up in committee before House members broke with tradition and voted to bring it directly to the floor.

His bill requires people to provide a valid Social Security number in order to apply for a New Mexico driver's license.

"Illegals coming over here are breaking federal law, and we as New Mexicans, if we give them driver's licenses, we're aiding and abetting people to break federal law," Nuñez said.

Majority Floor Leader Ken Martinez, D-Grants, proposed the now-tabled substitute that would require only other proof of identity and residency.

"We're a country of immigrants," Martinez said. "The more important thing to do in a time of economic downturn is create more jobs, employ more people."

As afternoon turned toward evening, no other substitute had been introduced although there was still time.  The House had scheduled debate until 5:30 p.m., but at that time the wrangling continued.

If no other substitute bill is introduced, lawmakers will vote up or down on Nuñez's bill. If passed, it would then go to the Senate for further consideration.

The 60-day session of the Legislature ends at noon on Saturday, March 19.