Republicans in New Mexico are pushing to repeal a decade-old law allowing undocumented immigrants to have driver's licenses.

The Republican-controlled state legislature has already begun pushing for the law's repeal, and Gov. Susan Martinez has expressed her support.

New Mexico was one of the first states to allow undocumented immigrants driver's licenses, passing a law in 2003; now, the Republicans in power have began attempts to repeal the law, according to The Associated Press.

Those in favor argue polls show New Mexicans support the repeal and the law allows for document fraud and flouts federal identification laws. Supporters of the law also argue it could hurt families, depriving them of a mode of transportation for work. They also say other states that have recently passed similar laws are not ignoring federal laws.

Republican Martinez, the state's first Latina governor, has expressed support for the repeal since her election. The AP reported in January that Martinez had talked of repealing the law during her State of the State address and though she has her party's backing, New Mexico Democrats control the state senate and will not likely allow the repeal to succeed.

In an opinion piece published by the Albuquerque Journal, Republican Rep. William Rehm explained why he seeks the law's repeal. He introduced House Bill 79, not as an anti-immigration law but as a law that will ensure New Mexico's security as well as help the state follow federal laws. He said the Department of Homeland Security requires anyone entering federal buildings or laboratories to show "a REAL ID compliant form of identification." If the law is not repealed, New Mexico will flout this law.

Rehm also added that to purchase weapons in the state one needs to show a driver's license, which is then screened through the FBI database.

"Since the FBI database does not contain the names of persons we have issued driver's licenses to there is no negative entry, and the purchaser is cleared to purchase a weapon, even though this transaction violates federal law," he wrote.

The bill has already passed a state House committee with a 7 to 6 vote along party lines, reports the Albuquerque Journal. However, the Democratic controlled senate remains the greatest obstacle and they will continue to block the repeal.

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