NM Gov. Susana Martinez Declares War On Undocumented Workers, Drivers Licenses - Page 2
The reference to “people in line” is to a select few immigrants who qualify for visas or permanent residency. However, the majority of undocumented immigrants in the country will never qualify to remain in the United States under current immigration law. Congress has set a quota on how many people from each country may migrate to the U.S. While there are exceptions for marriage and immigrants with college degrees, the average Mexican with no education will never qualify. For millions of people who have invested in businesses and purchased homes in the U.S., the line does not exist.
Meanwhile, conservative Washington State lawmaker Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Yakima Valley is proposing proof of legal status in order to obtain a driver’s license in that state, says the Spokesman Review. Washington State, New Mexico and Utah allow undocumented workers at least a type of driver’s license.
Few other states have followed suit in welcoming undocumented workers. The GOP in the United States House proposed a series of anti-immigrant laws, Tuesday, January 17th, 2010, including revoking the driving privileges of immigrants who have been issued a deportation order. That would leave potentially legal immigrants without a license for years while they fight aggressive anti-immigrant sentiments in the courts.
If Gov. Susana Martinez has her way, refugees from Arizona may want to consider other places to relocate, although they are getting few and far between. New Mexico, Arizona, Florida, Washington State, Colorado, Texas, Virginia and Nebraska are some of the states which have or are threatening laws making life for undocumented immigrants impossible.
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