The new regulations will require foreign nationals to provide two different proofs of identification before obtaining a driver's license, including a U.S. Federal ID number and a passport issued by the country of citizenship.
"These new regulations will provide a strong, secure system for issuing driver's licenses in New Mexico," said Tim Manning, Director of Homeland Security for New Mexico. "We want to take every possible step to crack down on fraudulent attempts to get a driver's license in New Mexico."
Currently, foreign-nationals can obtain a driver's license by showing only one form of identification, like a Matricula Consular issued by the Mexican Consulate in Albuquerque or El Paso, or a foreign passport. By requiring additional identification, the state is raising the standards for ensuring the identities of foreign nationals who want to obtain a driver's license.
In addition to requiring two different forms of identification, the Governor has directed the Taxation & Revenue Department to conduct an audit of records to determine that driver's licenses issued to foreign-nationals under existing regulations were based on authentic documents. If the Motor Vehicles Division has good cause to believe that licenses were obtained with false documentation, then MVD will administratively cancel the licenses in accordance with existing law after license holders are given the opportunity to be heard.
