Governor Martinez also pointed out that Washington, the only other state that issues full driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, is taking steps toward repealing that policy. Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire recently voiced support for citizenship checks for driver’s licenses, citing the need as “a matter of national security.” Currently, several proposals in the Washington State Legislature would require the Department of Licensing to confirm an applicant's legal presence in the country. Gregoire has stated that she will sign such legislation if it reaches her desk.
Those arrested by the U. S. Border Patrol on Federal immigration charges in Wednesday’s operation at the Albuquerque Amtrak station as they boarded a train bound for Chicago include ring leader Siraj A. “Sunny” Poonawala, 55, and his clients Sanjaykumar G. Patel, 24; Bhaveshkumar M. Prajapati, 27; Hiteshkumar A. Patel, 24; and Vipulkumar Patel, age unknown. Poonawala is also suspected of bringing other Indian nationals from New York, Alabama and Louisiana to New Mexico for the sole purpose of obtaining driver’s licenses. He is accused of charging up to $6,000 per each individual brought to New Mexico.
According to the investigation conducted by the New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department’s Tax Fraud Investigations Division, Poonawala made 26 appointments between Sept. 17, 2010 and Jan. 21, 2011 with appointment dates from Oct. 25, 2010 through April 20, 2011.Poonawala is accused of taking his customers to an apartment complex in Albuquerque where he would temporarily lease an apartment in their names. He also would buy insurance in their names from a local insurance agent. The lease agreement and the insurance policy were then used as the two required residency documents when the individuals applied for their driver’s licenses. 
Taxation and Revenue Secretary-designate Demesia Padilla said the Motor Vehicle Division will revoke all licenses issued to identified clients of Poonawala. “Clearly this law is being abused by individuals like Mr. Poonawala and his associates who have created a cottage industry of criminal enterprise,” Padilla said. “We will go through each application we believe was generated by Mr. Poonawala and cancel those licenses.” The following cases were also investigated jointly by the Tax Fraud Investigations Division, New Mexico State Police and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement over the last seven months: In November 2010, three Chinese nationals - Shu Sheng Lui, 33, Hiew Fongyee, 31, and Lam Fong Siu, 44 - were arrested in Albuquerque after they attempted to acquire licenses with forged residency documents.
They had paid 22-year-old Gordon Leong $500 per person to obtain forged documents showing New Mexico residence in order to obtain driver's licenses.· In October 2010, State Police arrested two Chinese nationals accused of being part of an illegal driver's license scheme at an MVD office in Santa Fe. Shunxian Feng, 33, flew in from China for the sole purpose of getting a driver's license. Workers at MVD became suspicious after seeing Feng with Shu Juan Liu, whom workers had noticed at MVD several times. Shu Juan Liu fled, but Feng and Yue Xian Liu, 50, were arrested and charged with conspiracy and forging a fictitious license. · In September 2010, State Police arrested Costa Rican national Adolfo J. Mora-Granados, 23, in Albuquerque for his suspected role in helping four illegal immigrants obtain driver's licenses. He is accused of using fake lease agreements to secure licenses. He was charged with four counts of conspiracy and six counts of forgery.
· In September 2010, State Police arrested Christian Sobral, a Brazilian man who tried to obtain licenses for two other Brazilians in Albuquerque. Sobral was paid $3,000 to fly them into New Mexico. He was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony. · In July 2010, a 32-year-old Illinois man was arrested after helping two undocumented Polish immigrants who live in Illinois get licenses in Albuquerque. Jaroslaw Kowalczyk, who pleaded guilty in federal court for transporting illegal immigrants, charged the immigrants $1,000 each to drive them to New Mexico to obtain forged documents.
