Somos Un Pueblo Unido Protecting Immigrants' Rights in New Mexico

Somos Un Pueblo Unido 1205 Parkway Dr, Suite B Sante Fe, NM   87507   telephone: 505-424-7832 fax: 505-438-8518 email: somos@rt66.com

On August 12, 2005, Governor Bill Richardson issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in the border region and made 1.75 million dollars available to local law enforcement agencies to “combat border security concerns” and to the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security to build a fence in certain border areas.

Somos un Pueblo Unido, an immigrants’ rights organization based in Santa Fe, released a statement on August 22, 2005 expressing concern about the potential effects of the declaration within New Mexico’s Latino communities and calling for comprehensive immigration reform and humane border policies.

Although Governor’s Richardson’s declaration of a state of emergency on the border has provided him with a public forum to speak about the need for comprehensive immigration reform, it does so at the cost of creating divisiveness in border communities and throughout New Mexico. His declaration fuels negative stereotyping of Mexicans and other Latinos, criminalizes immigrants who in desperation risk their lives to seek more viable economic opportunities for the survival of their families, and does nothing to make New Mexico more secure. As racially motivated vigilante groups threaten to organize and recruit in New Mexico, our state cannot afford to be sending that kind of message to our border region.

We are especially concerned that this declaration could send a dangerous message to local law enforcement officials that they should be enforcing federal immigration laws. We know that legally this not only lies beyond their scope of authority, but it can have an extremely adverse effect on the overall public safety of New Mexico residents. If immigrant families are afraid that local law enforcement officials are colluding with federal immigration agencies, they are much less likely to report crimes in their neighborhoods, serve as witnesses in court, and participate in community policing efforts.

The Governor’s declaration calls for increased border security, but we have seen that in the last ten years, an escalation of militarization of border areas throughout the southwest has not made our communities any safer nor has it stemmed the tide of undocumented immigration. Instead it has created fear and distrust within the immigrant community, has led to more deaths at the border, and has actually led to an increase of criminal activity in less trafficked border regions like New Mexico.

Rather than intensifying the xenophobic rhetoric that is so prevalent in our political climate today, our elected officials should be engaged in an honest debate about the need for comprehensive immigration reform and humane border enforcement policies that adhere to international human rights law and respect the civil rights of all people. We expect nothing less from our Governor, and we will continue to work with allies throughout the state to make that a reality.