Gov. Susana Martinez is making good on her vow to administratively tighten rules for granting driver's licenses to foreign nationals.

Martinez, whose efforts in this year's legislative session to do away with the license law failed, said Wednesday the state Motor Vehicles Division will recommend changes in the documents that foreign nationals must submit as identification and proof that they are New Mexico residents.

The recommendations, which the administration says are to improve security, will go to the governor in late July, a spokesman said.

In a news release, Martinez's office said 35 percent of the calls seeking appointments for a driver's license are from out-of-state telephone numbers. New Mexico last year began requiring appointments for immigrants who want licenses, giving MVD agents extra time to scrutinize documents.

"New Mexico's license is not secure," Taxation and Revenue Secretary Demesia Padilla said in a statement. "We have become a magnet for residents of other states and countries who are seeking to do whatever it takes and pay whatever it takes to obtain an official government-issued ID," she said.

New Mexico since 2003 has allowed immigrants to get driver's licenses, something at least 103,000 have done. State officials don't ask for a person's immigration status, so it's uncertain how many of those have gone to illegal immigrants.

To get the licenses, an immigrant can use a taxpayer identification number instead of a Social Security number. State officials work with Mexican government representatives to confirm the veracity of documents related to people from that country. New Mexico accepts a "matricula consular" card issued by the Mexican consulate in Albuquerque or El Paso, a valid passport and an original or certified copy of a foreign birth certificate with a notarized English translation.

In the past, the state has allowed an affidavit of residency as part of the documentation required to prove residency in New Mexico. The Martinez administration ended that practice in mid-May. The governor also has asked Motor Vehicle Division officials to look at the other documents currently accepted as proof of residency, such as a utility bill, bank statement, insurance bill, employment pay stub, local property tax statement, mortgage document or proof that a child is enrolled in a public or private school.

The governor also said the agencies will try to determine whether foreign nationals who previously received driver's licenses are residents of the state.

As part of the effort announced Wednesday, the state also will start looking at whether licenses for immigrants could be better administered by consolidating the number of MVD offices where the service is offered, a spokesman said.

The Republican governor, who ran into opposition from lawmakers who wanted to keep the licensing law, has said she might consider asking the Democratic-controlled Legislature to reconsider the issue when it convenes in a special session this fall.

Only New Mexico and Washington issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants because their laws don't require proof of citizenship or immigration documents. Utah grants a special driving permit to immigrants, but it cannot be used as identification, such as for boarding airplanes.

Martinez's news release pointed to several recent cases of license fraud involving immigrant licenses.

"Ultimately, this public-safety problem will not be fully resolved until the Legislature acts on the wishes of the public to overturn this law," Martinez said.

But Rep. Lucky Varela, D-Santa Fe, said he's not sure any lawmakers have changed their minds on the issue.

He said Wednesday that he and others will be keeping tabs on what Martinez administration officials want to do with the licensing laws.

"That's a concern I have with this administration, that they are administratively making changes ... that might go beyond executive power," he said. "We're going to have to look at those policy changes."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.