Friday, February 16, 2007
SWOP homepageAnti-Real ID Lobby Day
JOIN TODAY'S (Friday) LOBBY DAY AGAINST REAL ID ACT BY FLOODING THE SENATE WITH CALLS.
ACTION:
For those of you who could not join us in Santa Fe for the lobby day against REAL ID, please call your Senator and urge her/him to vote in favor of HJM13. (you can find a list of your representative at http://legis.state.nm.us --click on "find your legislator."
Example: Please support HJM13 because we need to send a message to Congress that the REAL ID Act:
- Is anti-immigration legislation in the guise of a security bill.
- Is an unfunded mandate that would cost our state millions.
- Would reverse important public safety strides in New Mexico.
- Takes away the right of the state to determine to whom and how to issue drivers' licenses
Background
As many of you know, the REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, sets onerous and costly new federal standards for issuing drivers’ licenses and state identification cards that would not only threaten New Mexico’s public safety but would also subject all of New Mexico’s residents to participating in a national ID card system. This anti-immigrant legislation, would also reverse the positive gains that New Mexicans have experience since passing legislation to issue drivers' licenses to immigrants, regardless of immigration status.
The REAL ID Act’s standards, if implemented, would require New Mexico ’s Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) to:
- Redesign and reissue all drivers’ licenses.
- Investigate and verify the authenticity of all identity and residency documents with emitting agencies.
- Store copies and electronic images of all such documents for lengthy periods of time.
- Redesign the state’s database of New Mexican residents’ personal information and make it accessible to motor vehicle division workers throughout the country.
- Require proof of an applicant’s citizenship or lawful immigration status as a prerequisite to the issuance of a driver’s license or ID card.
Rachel LaZar
El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos
(505) 246-1627
1701 Broadway SE
Albuquerque, NM 87102
.......avanzando los derechos de inmigrantes.....
Labels: Immigration, New Mexico, roundhouse, State Legislature
