Immigrant groups defend licenses for illegal immigrants

August 27, 2011

immigrant groups are shaking their fingers at the three suspected chinese crime ring leaders accused of selling new mexico licenses. they are also planning a peaceful protest-- against governor susana martinez trying to take away driver's licenses from illegal immigrants. cristina rodda is here with the story, cristina? we spoke to a woman who helps the immigrant community live and thrive here in albuquerque. she heard about the nearly four hundred indictments against the chinese crime ring leaders accused of illegally selling new mexico driver's licenses. bertha campos works with illegal immigrants-- making food and helping them earn money. "we are a very united community." she says everyone has a right to a form of identification. we can identify ourselves, we can have insurance for our cars, either way it is a necessity having a driver's license.. we all have kids in the schools we have to take them and pick them up." on thursday three men were indicted with nearly 4-hundred counts each-- accused of selling new mexico driver's licenses for 15- hundred bucks. "they would advertise for new mexico driver's license in the state of new york and offer people a package where they could fly to new mexico, paperwork would be prepared for them and they could receive a new mexico driver's license." the district attorney explained that about 62 people applied for a license but she's not sure how many got one. new mexico's governor spoke out saying it's just another example of why the new mexico driver's license law should be repealed. she says this case is embarrassing for new mexico. campos says governor martinez is going after the wrong people. in doing that it is not right it is a lack of responsibility-- and for one we all suffer." the governor says the driver's license law makes the u-s unsafe. she says it's difficult to tell if the person applying for the license is here to work or to commit crimes. illegal immigrant advocates are planning a peaceful march for september first in front of an mvd office.