New Mexico Governor Comments on Immigration Policy

NEW YORK—Governor William Richardson (D-NM) spoke at an immigration policy discussion Wednesday at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The meeting was part of the Council's Latin America program, which seeks to explore the challenges of globalization and Latin American democratization. More than 200 participants attended in person and via teleconference.

Central to Richardson's ideas is the belief that U.S. foreign policy should work together with other governments to help eliminate the root of problems.

He suggested the U.S. government aid the Mexican government in creating jobs to quell poverty within Mexico, the reason for illegal immigration into the United States. He asserted that a border fence is not the solution, instead advocating for more border patrol. "I believe that if you build a 12-foot wall, pretty soon they'll start making 13-foot ladders," said Richardson.

In 2003, New Mexico implemented a drivers' license policy much like New York's, allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers' licenses. "It works," Richardson said, adding that it provides a way to keep a record on undocumented immigrants.

As for the 12 million illegal immigrants already in the country, Richardson recommends letting them naturalize on the conditions that they "pay back taxes, learn English, embrace American values and pay a fine for having immigrated illegally," he said.

Currently, each border state has its own policy toward illegal immigrants, but no Federal system exists.