I was reading an article describing how New Mexico is trying to pass a bill rescinding drivers licenses to illegal aliens. Immediately, the world's largest violins started playing.

For years, New Mexico led in handing out driver's licenses to people suspected of being in the country illegally. Now, legislation to stop the practice is gaining traction despite a trend sweeping through several states to offer driving privileges to everyone regardless of their status.

Proponents of the bill say polling indicates most New Mexicans want to reverse course and repeal the law. They argue it would help prevent fraud and bring the state into compliance with federal identification requirements. Opponents say New Mexico has become a haven for those seeking to fraudulently obtain driver's licenses.

"These fraud operations involve the trafficking of humans to our state for the purpose of committing crimes; and with no intention to live here, they snatch up our license to take elsewhere, to places unknown and for purposes unknown," said Mike Lonergan, spokesman for Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. The governor and others have said it has failed to drive down the rate of uninsured motorists as intended.

Alejandro Altamirano from Durango, Mexico, has called New Mexico home for a dozen years, and it's where his two U.S.-born daughters are being raised. But the 36-year-old dairy farmworker fears he will be forced into the shadows if he loses his driver's license. Altamirano waits, hoping he can keep his driver's license. Otherwise, it could mean losing his job, his home and everything he has worked toward. "I will live with more fear, and especially more fear of police when I drive," he said.

I would hope he lives in fear. Alejandro is here illegally. He either crossed the border illegally or illegally overstayed a tourist visa. Why shouldn't he live in fear? He's not supposed to be in our country!

My favorite phrase, though, is that he fears he will be "forced into the shadows". Do any of you see illegal aliens in the shadows? I see them everywhere -- sitting with Michelle Obama at the State of the Union, demonstrating outside the White House, in our schools, in our hospital emergency rooms, on our welfare lines, standing outside of Home Depot, and more. You can't help not to see them.

I think the law should be enforced and the lawbreakers should be deported. Why should they be rewarded for breaking the law when people wait years to come here legally?

But I realize that this is never going to happen. So the next best thing would be for illegal aliens to go back into shadows. If they're in the shadows they're not consuming taxpayer money in our schools and welfare offices. If they're in the shadows they have a harder time taking jobs from American citizens. Maybe they'll even think twice about driving drunk or committing crimes. Maybe some of them will even go home. Imagine if the INS started enforcing the law and deporting illegals again in large numbers. They could no longer be so brazen. Maybe after a while we wouldn't even have to press 1 for English anymore.

Pedro Gonzales is editor of Newsmachete.com, the conservative news site. Feedback is welcome.