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Court Asked To Stop Immigrant License Checks In NM

By KRWG News

New Mexico – SANTA FE, N.M. (KRWG) New Mexico state legislators are asking a judge to stop Gov. Susana Martinez's administration from trying to verify whether immigrants who received a driver's license are still residents of the state.

A group of lawmakers filed a lawsuit Wednesday in state district court in Santa Fe seeking to block the Taxation and Revenue Department from checking a random sample of 10,000 license holders who are foreign nationals to determine their residency. The state sent notices to people that they must schedule an in-person appointment with the Motor Vehicle Division.

The governor wants the Legislature to end the state's policy of granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

Three states New Mexico, Washington and Utah allow illegal immigrants to get licenses because their laws do not require proof of citizenship.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. KRWG