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King shouldn’t defend NM driver’s license policy
Matthew Chandler
In 2003, Governor Bill Richardson signed legislation to allow those who are in this country unlawfully to obtain a New Mexico driver’s license.
Seven years later, however, it is clear this experiment has failed, and yet the state’s chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Gary King, is still defending the policy – even as recently as this week.
New Mexico is now one of only three states in the country that doesn’t require proof of citizenship or legal residency to obtain a state-issued license, and we’ve learned the hard way that being part of this exclusive club has left us vulnerable to fraud, crime and abuse. How? Because in the 47 other states that issue driver’s licenses, along with other privileges, this form of identification signifies that the bearer is someone who is in our country legally. So, you can see why a New Mexico driver’s license becomes so attractive to illegal immigrants.
With that in mind, it is understandable that a recent analysis found that following the passage of Arizona’s immigration law, there was a 60 percent increase in the number of licenses issued to immigrants in the three states which have the most relaxed licensing laws – including New Mexico.
Just recently, an Illinois man was caught running advertisements in a Polish-language newspaper guaranteeing New Mexico licenses in exchange for $1,000. The man admitted to making at least five trips to the state to help his illegal clients get a license from the Land of Enchantment.
Last year, it was determined that two of the three suspects who were involved in a robbery and shooting at a local Albuquerque restaurant were in the United States illegally – both had New Mexico drivers’ licenses.
And when federal agents were investigating a case involving Brazilians being transported in to the state from New Jersey for licenses, the feds noted that “New Mexico is one of a handful of states in which driver’s licenses are easily obtainable by illegal aliens using false documents.”
Defending a law that puts New Mexicans at risk
Although the obvious flaws in New Mexico’s driver’s license policy are glaring, it’s still on the books, which is a shame, because Gary King knows full well that implementation of this policy has led to increased criminal activity. And yet, except for defending the policy, the attorney general has remained silent. On a radio show in June, Gary King trotted out the tired argument that without the policy, “we are just forcing people to drive without us ever seeing if they can drive or not and that might cause fatal accidents on the road.”
Last Wednesday during a debate, while I unequivocally stated my opposition to the law, Mr. King was quick to say he disagreed with me and went on to defend the virtues of the law.
Scaring people into believing that without this law more motorists on our roads would be in danger misses the point entirely and is ludicrous and irresponsible. Instead, as the state’s chief law officer, King should have used his influence to draw attention to the dangers New Mexicans face because of the law, especially since the policy has generated criminal activity. He had four years to petition the governor and the Legislature to fix the law, but he did not.
Unfortunately, it would appear that Gary King would rather defend a law that puts New Mexicans at risk than disagree with members of his party who are responsible for crafting it. Putting politics above the safety of New Mexicans is inexcusable.
Four years ago, Gary King promised “to be the kind of state attorney general who will continually root out corruption before it saps state government operations or integrity – and before it’s blatant enough to catch the federal prosecutors’ attention.” Today, we are still waiting for this to happen.
Chandler is the Republican candidate for attorney general.
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What a twisted way to explain your side of an issue so that you can try to become Attorney General. You convinced me to vote for the other guy.
Source1–you do not get it. The logic is not that illegal immigrants who had drivers licenses committed crimes: I do not challenge that fact. What I challenge is that having the driving licenses had anything to do with their committing crimes. After all, people illegal immigrants and legal residents, commit crimes whether or not they have drivers licenses.
Let’s set the record straight, in particular order. As a side note, it’s clear who we each support…
First – DAVID – calling independents and democrats names that support Chandler and Susana is no way to debate an issue. But, we know you’re supporting Gary King….
Second, PenPal, you state that illegal immigrants that have obtained a drivers license have done no harm to New Mexicans. Do your homework. Chandler gave you one example of a murder. Regardless of the many crimes committed, is murder not enough…
Finally, icarusPhoenix, you talk about King “investigating” cases. How about “prosecuting” one. When you repeatedly say it’s under investigation, but don’t have any convictions to back it up… you are not either not doing your job or every claim is unfounded and there isn’t any corruption in NM. We know the answer to that one. And, it wasn’t King that brought up the investigation, or lack thereof, of the Secretary of State. It was the whistle blower’s lawyer that said after six months it appears King is sweeping another one under the rug.
Also, King certainly doesn’t sound off on issues such as an unconstitutional healthcare bill, people that are committing a federal crime but obtaining a New Mexico privilege. Yet, he got involved in cap and trade and he comments on safe issues like human trafficking. What’s the difference if you say King cannot comment on laws he has to simply enforce them. This holds no water.
Anyways, both candidates have let us know where he stands on the issue. Chandler said it’s wrong, King said it’s makes our highways safer. Now we know where each one stands, let’s move on.
The only thing King has agressively pursued is higher office.
Kudos to Matt Chandler for detailing his position since King seems to pick and choose which issues he wants to weigh in on and then runs for the hills with the “my job’s only to enforce what’s on the books, nothing else!” defense on those he doesn’t.
Gary King could have done something about corruption during the last 4 years. Instead, he insults us by claiming he’s doing everything he can to root it out. Guess that means King’s best shot isn’t good enough.
Mr. Chandler seems to be advocating that the Attorney General should only obey and defend laws that he likes. As wedum59 pointed out, the Attorney General does not have the power to repeal laws, and is in fact duty bound to defend all laws on the books as enacted by the legislature and signed by the Governor. Is Mr. Chandler saying that he intends to ignore the duties of his office if elected?
This seems rather similar to the GOP attacks on King demanding that he prosecute various Democrats for corruption who haven’t actually been indicted for such – which would be asinine enough were they not so remarkably inconsistent. They attack him for not prosecuting Secretary Herrera when an investigation is still incomplete, and then they complain that he is being using his office for political reasons when he investigates repeated allegations of corruption by Land Commissioner Lyons. It seems that the only crime an elected-official can commit that the GOP sees as worth prosecuting is being a member of the Democratic Party. Honestly, if Attorney General King were as politically-motivated and/or politically weak-willed as the GOP seems to want us to believe, do you honestly think he would be publicly investigating another Democrat (particularly the third-highest ranking elected official in the state) two months before an election?
Between these two positions and others he has stated publicly, I think Mr. Chandler has made it very clear that he intends to use the office of the Attorney General to pursue the political vendettas of his party (be they against immigrants, Democrats, environmentalists, etc.) rather than to defend the citizens of New Mexico and enforce the laws made by their chosen representatives. Thank you, Mr. Chandler, for demonstrating to the people of our state why you are unqualified for the office of Attorney General.
I would love Chandler to define “failure.” I would love Chandler to show the link between possessing a New Mexico drivers license and any crime being committed by an illegal immigrant having one. Chandler is pandering to an unfounded fear of illegal immigrants. If Chandler, candidate for the top legal office in the state, can write an editorial with gaps like undefined words, unproven links, I have to question his ability to think clearly and cogently on legal issues. If he runs in reliance of fear, I worry that he would rule by fear.
King has a double digit lead yet Chandler seeks to appeal to his base rather than independents, and Susanacrats!
I am in state law enforcement, trust me – I don’t know any officer that ever has or ever will support this law…. other than the state’s chief law officer Gary King.
Gary King took his original party line from his buddies in higher office and has pushed it on us for years. As the attorney general, he should not be defending this law – he should be stomping his feet and demanding change… it’s a security threat to all of us.
(1) It is illogical to tie drivers licenses for illegal immigrants to systemic corruption. These are two completely different issues.
(2) Chandler should contact some of the law enforcement officials who are actually on the streets and see how they feel about the law. It is my impression that they originally supported it because it increases the number of insured drivers on the road, which helps protect accident victims. Do they still support it?
(3) Chandler does have a good point, and it seems reasonable to review this law. But he should take his case to his local state senator and representative. King does not have the power to repeal the law, only the state legislature and the governor can do that. And both Denish and Martinez have indicated that they support a repeal.
Interested in seeing what King has to say about this issue now? Watch the following link…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf10chP1wRQ