Faced with 1930 Census records, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez acknowledged that her grandparents illegally came to the USA from Mexico.

Martinez, a Republican who took office in January, has been outspoken in a bid to repeal what she has called "the dangerous practice" of granting driver's licenses to undocumented migrants to "protect the people of New Mexico." It's not immediately clear whether her grandparents ever had driver's licenses.

She put the issue on the agenda for a special session that opened Tuesday. Two other states -- Utah and Washington -- do not require proof of citizenship to get a license.

Martinez's admission came Wednesday in an interview in Spanish with KLUZ-TV, the Albuquerque Univision affiliate, the Associated Press says.

"I know they arrived without documents, especially my father's father," she said.

AP says the admission "appeared to be the first time she has answered the question definitively." Spokesman Scott Darnell said today that the governor had just recently learned of her grandparents' immigration status through media reports that cited Census records showing her grandfather entered the country illegally.

"The governor has no reason to question that 1930 Census record about her grandfather and has always known, and publicly spoken of the fact for years, that her family roots trace back to Mexico," Darnell said. "It's unfortunate that some are choosing to personally attack the governor, but these tactics prove that supporters of giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants have run out of legitimate defenses for a bad policy."

Shortly after taking office, Martinez revoked sanctuary status for illegal immigrants who commit crimes.