Somos Un Pueblo Unido Protecting Immigrants' Rights in New Mexico

Somos Un Pueblo Unido 1205 Parkway Dr, Suite B Sante Fe, NM   87507   telephone: 505-424-7832 fax: 505-438-8518 email: somos@rt66.com

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Marcela Díaz, Somos Un Pueblo Unido.

July 13, 2005

Santa Fe, NM - On Wednesday, the Santa Fe City Council approved a resolution, sponsored by Councilor David Coss, declaring its opposition to the driver's license application procedures established by the REAL ID Act and calling up on the State Legislature and the Governor to continue providing access to drivers' licenses to all New Mexico residents, regardless of immigration status.

The REAL ID Act is anti-immigrant legislation passed by Congress and signed by President Bush last May. The Act, meant to standardize driver's license requirements nationally and punish states that issue licenses to undocumented immigrants, would require that states redesign and reissue all driver's licenses, investigate and verify the authenticity of identity documents with all issuing agencies, store electronic images of such documents, and require proof of legal immigration status. Because of the enormous costs and burdens it would impose on states, the Act was opposed by many local community groups, the Santa Fe Police Department as well as national organizations such as the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.

Proponents of Coss' Resolution pointed out at Wednesday's meeting that since New Mexico passed a law in 2003 making immigrants, regardless of immigration status, eligible to obtain drivers' licenses, approximately 20,000 immigrants have received licenses and the state has seen a dramatic decrease in the uninsured motorist rate. Licensed and insured drivers are more likely to stick around after an accident and less likely to be involved in a fatal accident. Furthermore, because these immigrants carry a state issued positive form of identification, law enforcement officials can better identify those who commit crimes and who truly threaten public safety.

Eric Mason, a member of the City of Santa Fe Immigration Committee stated at Wednesday's meeting, "The REAL ID Act negates the excellent strides which New Mexico has made to improve public safety. Our state's driver's license procedures have worked very well for us in New Mexico and have added over 19,000 licensed drivers who have now taken the driver's examinations and have the ability to purchase auto insurance."

María Cristina López, spokesperson for Somos Un Pueblo Unido, an immigrants' rights organization that worked for over four years to pass the state driver's license law said, "In its zeal to punish immigrants, Congress and the President have placed an enormous burden on all residents of the United States. The REAL ID Act, if implemented, would not only cost our state millions and wreak havoc at our MVD offices, but it would undermine the progress New Mexico has made in integrating the immigrant community and promoting public safety." She added, "It's important for all New Mexicans to know the negative ramifications of the REAL ID Act. Most provisions are not mandatory, so this resolution calls upon our state officials to provide alternatives to the people of New Mexico."