Topic: New Mexico busts illegal DL ring

[Pandora]

In 2003, under Bill Richardson’s administration, New Mexico decided to turn a blind eye when it came to federal deportation laws.

The state started allowing illegals to reside and work in the state and in 2003 NM passed a law to make it legal for illegals to drive.   Despite public discontent for the law with a poll showing 70% of the state’s residents opposing it, the Democrats in the state continuously refuse to repeal it.  Since NM is a border state, issuing driver’s licenses to illegals is a “recipe for fraud” that could only lead to the inevitable……fraud.

But wait!  There's more ....

Nine people have been arrested this week after authorities busted one of the “most sophisticated” driver’s license fraud rings.  The bust revealed fraudulent documents that led to hundreds of NM licenses to be obtained illegally over the past couple years.  According to the Wall Street Journal, the investigation is being led by the Taxation and Revenue Department that oversees the New Mexico’s Motor Vehicle Division.  The department claims “without a shadow of a doubt” there are other rings operating in the state.  Albuquerque Journal reported:

    “This is one of the largest and most sophisticated driver’s license fraud rings we have uncovered,” state Taxation and Revenue Secretary Demesia Padilla said at a news conference here Wednesday.

    Padilla was joined by 9th Judicial District Attorney Matthew Chandler, who said the ring — run by a family of Mexican nationals and their colleagues — used eight rented houses in Portales and Clovis over a two-year period to help 54 illegal aliens obtain New Mexico licenses

According to the Albuquerque Journal, the ringleader Collazo-Medrano was recruiting illegals from all over the country:

    Chandler said Collazo-Medrano recruited illegal aliens living in Illinois, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina, and charged them $4,000 apiece to transport them to New Mexico, obtain the illegal documents and get a driver’s license. Fifty-four such licenses have been linked directly to the eight addresses in Portales and Clovis, and helped illegal aliens from Mexico, El Salvador, Brazil, Guatemala, Uruguay and Honduras get licenses.

    “We’re going to go back to the Legislature and we’re going to ask them one more time, ‘Please see the mess that you’ve created for us.’” Padilla said, adding that it’s costing the state a huge amount of money to investigate and prosecute such crimes.

"Please" my ass!  We need to stop asking "please" and telling them to do their damn jobs or get out.

[charlesoakwood]

Is New Mexico a blue state or is it a Royal Blue state?

[Libertas]

It's a "rope" state.  Get a rope.  Get lots of ropes.

[charlesoakwood]

They've been pacified since the end of the nineteenth century range wars.

[Libertas]

Billy the Kid wouldn't put up with this scum.

[Glock32]

Gov. Richardson is Hispanic.  It's all about ethnic identity first and foremost.

[Pandora]

Gov. Richardson is Hispanic.  It's all about ethnic identity first and foremost.

That disgusts me beyond all expression.  As does "hispanic".

[Libertas]

Gov. Richardson is Hispanic.  It's all about ethnic identity first and foremost.

That disgusts me beyond all expression.  As does "hispanic".

Enrages my Viking identity.   

[Predator Don]

While in Mexico a few years back, the cabbie we found to take us around commented he was going to the USA as soon as he could raise a few thousand dollars. Said it took 4k.

Heck, I didn't give it much thought at the time, other than there must be some type of charge for a visa, etc.

Well, it's clear now.