ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman has asked the Justice Department to determine whether Arizona's immigration law could require New Mexico residents to carry passports in the neighboring state.
New Mexico's senior senator notes Arizona's law allows people to show state-issued identification to prove they're legally in the United States.
But New Mexico doesn't check whether people are in the country legally before they get drivers' licenses.
Bingaman says in a letter to U.S. Attorney Eric Holder that Arizona police could detain residents of New Mexico and four other states while verifying their status.
Bingaman says that could mean U.S. citizens are detained on what he terms "little more than a hunch."
He also says detention and investigation would likely last longer than a brief license check.
Loubo1 posted at 5:16 am on Sun, Jul 18, 2010.
Obviously the senator can't read.
Slabside posted at 8:48 pm on Tue, Jun 15, 2010.
There would not be any debate here if the Federal government would enforce the nation's immigration laws instead of looking the other way.
rotorhead1871 posted at 10:07 pm on Sun, Jun 13, 2010.
why? are there any illegals in NM???--then they should stay there.. NM should just wait to see what happens. Let our AZ. lawmen handle it. They will let you know......
forkedlift1 posted at 9:47 am on Fri, Jun 11, 2010.
Due to the stipulations in Arizona's law, this legal question does indeed call for an official legal opinion from someone empowered to render one before the law takes effect.
Foreigners who are already lawfully in the country (visitors, spouses, businessmen, students, workers, etc. with current visas) are already required to carry their "papers" with and shouldn't be affected by Arizona's new immigration enforcement law.
At stake are the rights of U.S. citizens' who are permanent residents of other states which do not require lawful presence in the United States as a condition of obtaining a drivers license from their state.
Is their right to travel between states (in this case entry into Arizona) impeded due to the requirements spelled out in Arizona's new law?
The question posed by the U.S. Senator from New Mexico to the U.S. Attorney is in dire need of an answer, a well researched legal opinion, before July 29.
SunWorshiper posted at 3:10 pm on Thu, Jun 10, 2010.
[beam] I don't really know which is worse.....New Mexico not verifying legal status before getting a license. OR the fact that this Senator is insinuating that ALL New Mexico people entering into Arizona will NATURALLY commit some crime that necessitates the need to carry their passport and/ or verify status!! BTW, I didn't see in the article whether or not New Mexico gives a Voter ID card to anyone that wants or whether they need a little verification just whom is voting in the good state of New Mexico.
samkat posted at 1:39 pm on Thu, Jun 10, 2010.
Well Jeff, the answer is simple. They need more proof of citizenship or legal residency. Correct that little deficiency and you have no problem.
Masterrogue666 posted at 12:49 pm on Thu, Jun 10, 2010.
"But New Mexico doesn't check whether people are in the country legally before they get drivers' licenses." -- Wow, a sanctuary STATE! I say bring proof of citizenship, ie, birth cert, et al
normalgirl posted at 12:34 pm on Thu, Jun 10, 2010.
"But New Mexico doesn't check whether people are in the country legally before they get drivers' licenses."
Wow... does this concern anyone else besides me. I thought after 9/11 states would be required to make sure anyone getting a drivers licenses had to show proof of citizenship.
I would think there would be more of an uproar over New Mexico's state law than Arizona's SB 1070 that mimics the federal law. So if I understand Sen. Jeff Bingaman he thinks it's okay to give a driver's license to anyone no matter who they say they are but it's not okay to follow the law to become a legal immigrant. Who votes these backwards people into office?