A key New Mexico Republican lawmaker says he will propose a bill next session modeled after Utah's immigrant driver's license law.
Rep. Paul Pacheco told The Associated Press he will sponsor legislation that would grant New Mexico "driving privilege cards" for immigrants suspected of living in the country illegal. Pacheco says he decided to look at the Utah model amid a stalemate between Republicans and Democrats over revising a New Mexico law that allows immigrants to obtain state driver's licenses regardless of status.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently denied New Mexico an extension from tougher federal requirements on state driver's licenses.
The decision means New Mexico IDs won't be valid for federal purposes.
Pacheco had previously sponsored measure to repeal New Mexico's immigrant driver's license law.
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