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Pueblo Sheriff readies mobile command for warmer weather

Pueblo Sheriff readies mobile command for warmer weather

Yahoo01-05-2025

(PUEBLO, Colo.) — The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) is getting ready for a busy summer by preparing its Mobile Command Vehicle for deployment in Pueblo County and the surrounding area.
PCSO said the vehicle is funded by a Department of Homeland Security Grant, supports major incidents and planned events across the South Region. It has been deployed to assist with wildland fires, officer-involved shootings, large-scale evacuations, as well as events like election security.
'We want to make sure it's out there and our partners know about it, and they can utilize it if they have an incident or a planned event in their area,' said Joshua Johnson, Emergency Management Coordinator. 'Any of our other contiguous county partners–Otero or Crowley, El Paso–if they had a need, they could certainly reach out to us here at the Sheriff's Office, and we'd be happy to share it with them.'
The Mobile Command was purchased in 2006 for $500,000, and almost 20 years later, it has just under 5,000 miles. PCSO said they are glad it is not always needed, but want to make sure everyone knows it is there when they do.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Pueblo Sheriff readies mobile command for warmer weather
Pueblo Sheriff readies mobile command for warmer weather

Yahoo

time01-05-2025

  • Yahoo

Pueblo Sheriff readies mobile command for warmer weather

(PUEBLO, Colo.) — The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) is getting ready for a busy summer by preparing its Mobile Command Vehicle for deployment in Pueblo County and the surrounding area. PCSO said the vehicle is funded by a Department of Homeland Security Grant, supports major incidents and planned events across the South Region. It has been deployed to assist with wildland fires, officer-involved shootings, large-scale evacuations, as well as events like election security. 'We want to make sure it's out there and our partners know about it, and they can utilize it if they have an incident or a planned event in their area,' said Joshua Johnson, Emergency Management Coordinator. 'Any of our other contiguous county partners–Otero or Crowley, El Paso–if they had a need, they could certainly reach out to us here at the Sheriff's Office, and we'd be happy to share it with them.' The Mobile Command was purchased in 2006 for $500,000, and almost 20 years later, it has just under 5,000 miles. PCSO said they are glad it is not always needed, but want to make sure everyone knows it is there when they do. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Blue states rallied for illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses ahead of Trump's REAL ID crackdown
Blue states rallied for illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses ahead of Trump's REAL ID crackdown

Yahoo

time20-04-2025

  • Yahoo

Blue states rallied for illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses ahead of Trump's REAL ID crackdown

Americans are scrambling to obtain a state-issued REAL ID in order to travel by plane ahead of a federal deadline next month, which comes after states from coast to coast changed their laws surrounding driver's licenses to permit illegal immigrants to drive. Americans will need to obtain a REAL ID, which is a federally-compliant driver's license or other identification that meets higher standards than state-issued licenses, in order to easily travel by air, the Department of Homeland Security explains on its website. Only legal U.S. citizens or residents can obtain the identification card, while valid U.S. passports can also still be used instead of a REAL ID for domestic air travel. Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 to heighten security requirements for driver's licenses in response to the attacks on 9/11. Though some states began complying with the law more than a decade ago, enforcement for all states had been repeatedly delayed due to the pandemic, DMV backlogs, as well as some states, such as South Carolina, initially refusing to comply. The move to officially enforce REAL IDs at the national level for domestic air travel comes after 19 states and Washington, D.C., put laws on the books allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. House Republican's Bill Would Rip Federal Funds From States That Give Illegal Immigrants Driver's Licenses The states, which stretch from New York and New Jersey to California and Washington state, changed their laws in order to allow illegal immigrants to drive freely to work, while also ensuring they meet driving skill requirements and could obtain car insurance to bolster road safety, various liberal lawmakers and immigrant advocacy groups said as they rallied support for the law changes. Read On The Fox News App "Expanding access to driver's licenses is critical for the safety of New Jerseyans and a step toward building a stronger and fairer New Jersey for all," New Jersey Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy, for example, said in 2019 after signing the Garden State's legislation allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. Legal Immigrant Outraged Over Minnesota Offering Driver's Licenses To Illegal Immigrants "Allowing residents the opportunity to obtain driver's licenses regardless of their immigration status will decrease the number of uninsured drivers and increase safety on our roads. I thank my partners in the Legislature for sending this important bill to my desk," he added. Just a few months after New Jersey's 2021 law change, the state issued 100,000 new permits, a 65% jump compared to the same three-month period in years prior, NJ Spotlight News reported at the time. Bondi Announces New Lawsuits Against States Allegedly Failing To Comply With Immigration Actions New Jersey is among the states that have reported long wait times at DMVs as residents scramble to obtain a REAL ID to fly ahead of the May 7 deadline. The states that allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses include: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Washington state had a law on the books allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses since 1993, National Conference of State Legislatures data show, while most states, such as Illinois and California, began changing their laws starting in 2012. In Massachusetts in 2022, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker vetoed legislation allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses, citing that local DMVs did not have the ability to verify the validity of foreign documents and that it would overall weaken the validity of state driver's licenses. "I cannot sign this legislation because it requires the Registry of Motor Vehicles to issue state credentials to people without the ability to verify their identity. The Registry does not have the expertise or ability to verify the validity of many types of documents from other countries," Baker said at the time. "Consequently, a standard Massachusetts driver's license will no longer confirm that a person is who they say they are." Massachusetts ultimately allowed illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses through a ballot initiative. Domestic air travelers who are in the nation illegally are required to present a valid and up-to-date photo ID to board a flight, and can show documents such as a driver's license, a current foreign passport, a military ID or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Employment Authorization Card, and other forms of photo IDs, according to various immigrant advocacy groups. Sanctuary State's 'Green Light' Law Is Red Flag For Americans' Safety, National Security: Experts The Trump administration, which has been on an illegal immigration deportation blitz, revealed in a memo last week that the REAL ID requirement will further crack down on illegal aliens moving freely around the country. A Department of Homeland Security memo exclusively obtained by Fox Digital last week outlined that part of the motivation for the Trump administration to enforce the REAL ID law is to prevent those in the country illegally from flying – unless they are looking to self-deport on an international flight. "Under Biden, illegal aliens used non-compliant IDs from sanctuary cities to board flights, but REAL ID's higher security standards make it nearly impossible to forge legitimate documents, ensuring only verified travelers can fly," the memo states. "This closes the gaping vulnerabilities Biden's policies created, preventing criminals and potential terrorists from exploiting our aviation system, as seen during 9/11 when fraudulent IDs enabled attacks," the memo continues. New Jersey Bill To Let Illegal Immigrants Get Drivers' Licenses Advances To Governor's Desk The agency emphasized that the measure prevents people in the country illegally from traveling within the U.S. "DHS and TSA are clear, the only place an illegal alien should be flying is home. Under Secretary Kristi Noem's leadership, illegal aliens will be barred from domestic flights, with one exception: illegal aliens self-deporting on international flights will be allowed to board without a REAL ID, encouraging their exit from the U.S.," it states. While many conservatives backed the REAL ID Act, both in 2005 and now, some have said it bolsters the oversight "Big Brother" holds over the country. Illegal Immigrants Flood Dmvs In Ny After New Drivers License Law Takes Effect "Evidently, existing ID requirements for American citizens just aren't adequate now, so Big Brother is forcing us through more hoops for the 'right' to travel within our own country," former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin posted to X. "If you think REAL ID is about election integrity, you're going to be sorely disappointed. Someone has lied to you, or you're engaged in wishful thinking. Please don't shoot the messenger," Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., wrote on X last week. "REAL ID is a 2005 George Bush-era Patriot Act overreach that went completely unenforced until Trump got into office. Let me guess: he's playing 4D chess and I should just go along with it?" Massie wrote in another post. Top Trump Agency Hypes Importance Of Real Id Enforcement, Citing One Key Reason President Donald Trump, under his first administration, pushed back the REAL ID October 2020 deadline as the pandemic raged. The Biden administration's DHS established the May 7, 2025, deadline in 2022. Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, told Fox News Digital in a statement last week: "REAL IDs make identification harder to forge, thwarting criminals and terrorists. 81% of air travelers hold REAL ID-compliant or acceptable IDs. DHS will continue to collaborate with state, local, and airport authorities to inform the public, facilitate compliance, curb wait times and prevent fraud." "DHS responds to official correspondence through official channels," McLaughlin added. Fox News Digital's Cameron Arcand and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report. Original article source: Blue states rallied for illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses ahead of Trump's REAL ID crackdown

Deadline for Real ID is next month: here's what you need to know
Deadline for Real ID is next month: here's what you need to know

Yahoo

time20-04-2025

  • Yahoo

Deadline for Real ID is next month: here's what you need to know

Apr. 19—If your New Mexico driver's license does not have a bright gold star in the upper right corner, it could be time to make a trip to the Motor Vehicle Division and apply for a Real ID. The Department of Homeland Security announced that starting May 7, any person attempting to fly commercially or wanting to enter a federal building must have a Real ID in order to do so. While Real IDs are required for various federal activities, users have other options to identify themselves, including using a passport as identification, and users do not need the enhanced driver's license for any state offered services, New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department spokesperson Bobbie Marquez said. Currently, 80% of New Mexicans have a Real ID, Marquez said. Roughly, 370,448 New Mexicans have a standard driver's license, which allows them to legally drive in the state but is not accepted for federal purposes, she added. New Mexico began distributing federally-compliant identification cards in 2016, something Taxation and Revenue Secretary Stephanie Schardin Clarke said has helped reduce wait times at the MVD and stress for New Mexicans. "We're really glad we got an early start on this and that said, we don't want any New Mexican to be caught unaware and be surprised and unable to travel when that deadline hits," Clarke said. New Mexico adopted its two-tier license system in 2016, after a bruising political fight over whether undocumented immigrants should be able to drive legally. The current system essentially allows New Mexico residents to opt out of Real ID by obtaining a standard driver's license. New Mexicans who have a mobile I.D. will be able to use that as a federally accepted form of identification at Albuquerque International Sunport or at the Lea County Regional Airport, Clarke said. "When we went about designing our mobile driver's license, we made sure at the outset that it would be accepted as a Real ID and accepted by (the Transportation Security Administration), because we kind of thought, what's the point of issuing a mobile driver's license if it doesn't meet those requirements," Clarke said. "The TSA scanning equipment is also able to basically see that it's a Real ID and accept it for that purpose. MVD will continue to offer a standard license for New Mexicans who do not want or are ineligible for a Real ID. Other federally accepted documents include permanent resident cards, border crossing cards and more. "New Mexicans may have another form of ID that will be acceptable by the federal government for these purposes," Marquez said. "In addition to those who may not want a Real ID, there are some New Mexicans who are not eligible to receive a Real ID. "Eligibility requires the individual to have all required documentation to prove their legal status, and for the individual's legal name to match or be linked across all documents." To apply for a Real ID, individuals can make a same-day appointment with MVD. Users can also apply to renew their driver's license entirely online through the MVD website. Required documents to apply for a Real ID include proof of residence, an item with an identification number and proof of lawful identity. If approved, individuals will receive a printed, temporary license in place of a Real ID, which would be mailed to users within a few weeks, and can use the temporary license in the meantime. Journal staff reporter Dan Boyd contributed to this report.

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