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New technology will soon be used in New Mexico to verify information documents presented by people seeking driver’s licenses.The state is grappling with recurring incidents of fraud, remedy as critics claim New Mexico has become a go-to place nationally for illegal immigrants — or preying criminals representing them — wanting to obtain real driver’s licenses.
Critics attribute most of the problem to the 2003 state law that allows foreign nationals to obtain New Mexico licenses, regardless of whether they are in the country legally.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the changes being carried out include getting bar code readers to help verify bank statements and utility bills, and other software to help ensure passports are legitimate.
In addition, Demesia Padilla, secretary of the state Taxation and Revenue Department, which oversees New Mexico’s Motor Vehicle Division, said her agency is considering establishing a field office in Albuquerque that would handle all foreign national applicants in the state’s largest city. Other MVD field offices around the state would still handle all types of driver’s license applicants.
About 70 percent of New Mexico’s appointments for foreign national licenses are made in Albuquerque, Padilla said. “That would take some pressure off of the field offices,” she said. “It’s something that we’re discussing and considering.”
A decision on whether to set up the field office for foreign nationals, who can only obtain licenses through state-run MVD offices, is expected to be made later this summer.
Recent busts of two “rings” that obtained New Mexico licenses driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants in other states prompted renewed scrutiny of the state’s law — and how it is being enforced.
New Mexico and Washington are the only states that allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, though proof of a local address is required. Utah law allows for a more limited driving.-[source]
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