Wednesday, February 2, 2011

New Mexico Governor Martínez Orders Police To Check Legal Status Of Immigrants On Traffic Violation Stops And Other Crimes

Governor Susana Martínez

Police began to ask for legal status from Hispanics during traffic stops for minor violations and other crimes.

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 2, 2011

Santa Fe, New Mexico - On Monday, Governor Susana Martínez, 51, (R) signed an executive order rescinding New Mexico's sanctuary status and ordering law enforcement officers to inquire about the legal status of immigrants who commit crimes and those who are arrested for minor violations in the state. "The order takes the handcuffs off New Mexico's law enforcement officers in their mission to keep our communities safe," Governor Martínez said. The undocumented immigrants busted for any violation of state laws and ordinances should be reported to federal authorities, according to Martínez.
Immigrant rights activists say, Governor Martínez executive order will lead to racial profiling, discrimination and immigrants will now fear about reporting crimes because police could request their legal status in the country.
She is also heading the political movement to repeal the 2003 state law that allows undocumented immigrants the right to apply for a driver's license with two IDs like a Mexican Matricula Consular, birth certificate from a foreign country or a marriage license from the U.S.
Martínez became the first Hispanic woman to be elected as governor in U.S. history and became the first to be considered as anti-immigrant for the GOP in the country.
Republican State Representative William "Bill" R. Rehm (R-Albuquerque) on Monday introduced a bill to revoke almost 83,000 New Mexico driver licenses issued to undocumented immigrants by 2012.

Execuive order (PDF) signed by Governor Martínez at link: http://bit.ly/dQxieV

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