Taxpayers respond to vote to eliminate driver’s license to immigrants

March 7, 2011

**Taxpayers respond to vote to eliminate driver’s license to immigrants**

A DELEGATION PLANS TO MEET WITH SENATORS AND DELIVER THOUSANDS OF POST-CARDS

Las Cruces, NM – The Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR), a human rights organization in El Paso TX and Southern New Mexico, feels saddened to see so many state representatives fold under pressure by Governor Susana Martinez’ ill-conceived anti-immigrant agenda.

Friday’s vote by the House of Representatives to eliminate the ability for immigrants to secure a drivers license is a blow to the state’s financial coffers and a blow to all insured drivers.

In response, several community members will sacrifice a day of work and other obligations to go to Santa Fe and face the legislators who will make the next move.  A caravan will be leaving early Tuesday morning to meet with Senators who hold future of driver’s insurance rate payers in their hands.  As well as meeting with Senators, the delegation plans to hand deliver thousands of post cards signed by Southern New Mexicans directly to Governor Martinez’ office.

The measure, HFS/HB 78, passed with a vote of 42 to 28 with many Democrats voting with Republicans. We at the Border Network for Human Rights are saddened to see so many state representatives fold under pressure by Governor Susana Martinez’ ill-conceived anti-immigrant agenda.

BNHR believes that New Mexico can do better in finding ways to solve this issue without harming our families, our society, and our state economy.

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More information on the Border Network for Human Rights: This organization, founded in 1998, is one of the leading immigration reform and human rights advocacy organization in the United States. Based in El Paso, the BNHR has over 4,000 members in El Paso and Southern New Mexico. Visit us at www.bnhr.org