Advertisement Gov. Susana Martinez signs REAL ID bill Share Shares Copy Link Copy

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has signed a bill revising the state's immigrant driver's license law after years of pressuring lawmakers.The measure puts New Mexico in compliance with tougher federal identification requirements.The REAL ID Act requires proof of legal U.S. residency for those who want to use state identification to access certain areas of federal facilities. New Mexico had no such requirement.The new law stops the practice of providing driver's licenses to immigrants regardless of legal status. Immigrants in the country illegally will be able to get newly created driver's authorization cards by submitting fingerprints. Immigrants who already have licenses can skip the requirement.Residents will be able to get REAL ID compliant licenses.9294662