New Mexico licenses won't work in airports under federal law: governor
Source: Reuters
New Mexico's policy of granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants will violate a federal law taking effect in January, meaning residents won't be able to use their licenses as ID to board airplanes, the state's governor says.
"It's deeply concerning that New Mexicans who work at our labs, get on an airplane, or need to show identification at any other federal facility will no longer be able to use their driver's license to do so," New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez said in a statement.
States have until Monday to tell the federal government whether they plan to comply with the federal Real ID Act, which is scheduled to go into effect January 15 after several delays in implementation since it was passed in 2005. The law creates national standards for the issuance of state driver's licenses and identification cards.
... Peter Simonson, executive director of the New Mexico chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, called Martinez's letter a "scare tactic meant to advance her agenda of dismantling New Mexico's driver's license law."
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/12/us-usa-newmexico-licenses-idUSBRE89B1E520121012
CurtEastPoint
(18,668 posts)but no national standards for voting.
Igel
(35,374 posts)We have national standards for whether or not a federal agency will accept a drivers license as proof of citizenship/residency. States can do whatever they want for their DLs. Nothing requires that the feds accept DLs as proof of citizenship/residency for federal purposes.
We also have some national standards for voting. For instance, NY had to trash its lever machines because they didn't meet national standards. Optical scanners, e-Slate, and some other electronic standards do.
In the case of truly egregious voting practices, though, since voting is ultimately a political matter there's a political solution--not having state-level election results for national office accepted at the federal level. Electors aren't seated, the House and Senate can reject a member. Not that this is likely to happen this time round or the next couple of times.
keopeli
(3,527 posts)Citizen, you can't fly.
Riiiight.
Most certainly a scare tactic from our well-to-do governor.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Skittles
(153,226 posts)bemildred
(90,061 posts)I will never fly again exceept under duress.
PavePusher
(15,374 posts)I've traveled all over the world. If I'd ever been caught entering any other country illegally, I really don't think I'd be able to get a driver's licence there.
Lars39
(26,117 posts)Who would you rather have driving on our roads, a person who has no idea of our driving laws and safety issues, or someone who had to learn our driving laws and how to drive safely?
PavePusher
(15,374 posts)Let's deal with the illegal immigration problem,then the drivers licence problem/debate won't even be an issue.
Lars39
(26,117 posts)PavePusher
(15,374 posts)Again... why give them priviliges instead of dealing with the basic problem?
Lars39
(26,117 posts)Initial token arrests, and then you are back to square one with people who are here illegally not knowing how to drive safely on our roads.
treestar
(82,383 posts)Whatever that is. It is a matter of identity and not letting terrorists on board. Terrorists could be citizens or legal aliens (like most of the hijackers)
PavePusher
(15,374 posts)But why not also screen out the people here illegally? They "could be" many other things in addition to simply being here in violation of our laws.
treestar
(82,383 posts)And they'd have to be trained in determining who was here legally or not. And legal tourists would not have driver's licenses - just passports of their countries.
Illegals are not worth worrying that much about. Where else would you have them screened for? Libraries? Supermarkets?
PavePusher
(15,374 posts)Unless you are proposing doing away with the TSA (I'd endorse that) and making airlines responsible for their own security (I'd endorse that as well, but they'd have to be liable for any criminal action that takes place on their planes). But that's a subject for a different discussion.
treestar
(82,383 posts)from his own country? If the idea is identity, that should be sufficient. What do we are if illegal aliens fly? Terrorists could be citizens. Most of the 911 hijackers were legally in the US. So this stuff has never really made any sense.
PavePusher
(15,374 posts)Fairly simple to catch.
treestar
(82,383 posts)From their country. The airlines has to time to check visas and we certainly don't have time to have the border patrol checking every person who boards a domestic aircraft. The identity is all they need.