Natalie Gonnella
On Monday, Governor Susana Martinez issued an executive order, authorizing New Mexico state police to investigate into the immigration status of anyone arrested for a crime. In a statement discussing her actions, Martinez said:
This order takes the handcuffs off of New Mexico’s law enforcement officers in their mission to keep our communities safe. The criminal justice system should have the authority to determine the immigration status of all criminals, regardless of race or ethnicity, and report illegal immigrants who commit crimes to federal authorities. Meanwhile, it is important that we safeguard the ability of victims and witnesses to report crimes to law enforcement officers without fear of repercussion
Law enforcement officials will still be prohibited from inquiring into the immigration status of any individual who is the victim of a crime, a witness to a crime or seeking police assistance, as well as from individuals stopped for traffic violations. However, Martinez's order rescinds the state's "sanctuary status," issued by former Governor Bill Richardson, which restricted officers from asking criminal suspects about their citizenship.
A former Democrat and district attorney, Governor Martinez has also vowed to overturn current legislation which allows foreign nationals, including undocumented immigrants, to apply for and obtain New Mexico driver's licenses. New Mexico is one of only three states which allows undocumented immigrants to receive driver's licenses
A recent AP report revealed that:
New Mexico issued 10,257 licenses to immigrants through the first six months of 2010, compared with 13,481 for all of 2009. The pace has intensified since April, when neighboring Arizona passed its immigration law. The figures include both illegal immigrants and legal residents from outside the U.S.
Martinez is one of the first among GOP freshman governors to enact measures aimed at tightening state immigration policy.
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