2024 YEAR-IN-REVIEW

Thank you for standing with Somos in 2024 to advance immigrant worker rights. As we prepare to defend our families and communities from the political challenges that lie ahead, we rema in committed to a bold economic justice agenda in New Mexico.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today to support our work in 2025. ¡Gracias y feliz año nuevo!

Organizing for Essential Worker Rights & Opportunities

In 2024, Somos recruited new members, built alliances, and organized legislative campaigns that will create lasting opportunities for low-income and immigrant workers. These efforts ensure better access to skills-building and job training programs, opening doors to economic opportunities in emerging industries.

lntegrated Education Training {IET) Expansion

Somos members advocated for $5 million in the state budget for New Mexico’s Adult Education Division. This funding allowed community colleges to add 22 new IET programs in fields like welding, solar panel and broadband installation, and early childhood development. More IETs will be added in rural communities in 2025.

New Mexico Workforce Training Economic Support Pilot

We also led a campaign to establish a state-sponsored cash transfer program launching in January 2025. This program will provide $1,000 monthly for up to 12 months to low-income workers enrolled in IET’s.

Somos work by the numbers ...

Conducted 36 workshops for 928 immigrant workers on labor rights.
Formed 12 worksite committees with 69 workers to improve wages and work conditions. 5 of their members successfully applied for deferred action status as a result of their complaints.
63 members filed wage complaints through and recouped $164,111 in unpaid wages and damages.
Recruited 120 new members in the Permian Basin.

Regional Workorce Development Advocacy

Somos worked with UNM’s Center for Social Policy to finalize a study with 100 oil and gas families on workforce development gaps and opportunities in the Permian Basin region. The report, which is being used by various state agencies to shape job training infrastructure, can be found here

We published the Gateways4Growth strategic plan to better integrate immigrant workers in Santa Fe’s economic development strategies. As a result of its recommendations, the City has invested in a citywide workforce development planning process, and in 2025 we’ll launch a public information campaign about the training resources available for Spanish-speaking immigrants. Read the G4G report here

In Farmington, Somosistas organized a local campaign to move San Juan College to reinstate ESL and Spanish GED classes next semester and expand outreach to the Latino immigrant community.

Securing our Future with Ciudadanía ¡Va!

In 2024, Somos organized 24 citizenship forums in Santa Fe and southeastern New Mexico with 509 attendees. 53 Somosistas naturalized this year and voted for the first time. Hundreds more are in the process. In 2025, we’ll keep expanding our program to other rural areas of New Mexico.

Somos Acción Get Out the Vote in Southeastern New Mexico

Somos Accíon, our sister 501 c4 organization, ran a GOTV campaign in Congressional District 2’s Eddy, Lea, and Otero counties to get Latinos out to vote. We knocked on 12,950 doors, made 8,690 phone calls, sent 33,000 mailers, and had one-on-one conversations with over 3,000 voters. We’ll continue to grow power in rural New Mexico with year round organizing and voter outreach.

What's Next?

Threats to mixed status immigrant families will require unprecedented know-your-rights outreach anda shoring up of statewide policies ensuring our money isn’t being used to aid in the separation of families and destabilization of local economies. Wasting no time after the election, we organized a press conference on November 22nd at the Roundhouse with other immigrant organizations unveiling a bold policy platform to protect and move our families forward.

Highlights of legislative priorities in 2025:

No local and state resources to aid immigration enforcement.
Safeguard sensitive personal information and MVD records so the information doesn't get into ICE's hands.
Expand funding for immigration legal services.
Access to instate tuition and financia[ aid for immigrant adult workers in credit and non-credit skills-building and job training programs.
More funding for adult education programs statewide.

Save the Date: Immigrant & Worker’s Day of Action

Join us on Monday, February 3rd for lmmigrant & Worker's Day of Action 2025 at the Roundhouse. Hundreds of immigrants and allies will march and rally to demand protections and fairness for New Mexico's immigrant workers and communities.

Save the Date: lmmigrant & Worker's Day of Action

Join us on Monday, February 3rd for lmmigrant & Worker’s Day of Action 2025 at the Roundhouse. Hundreds of immigrants and allies will march and rally to demand protections and fairness for New Mexico’s immigrant workers and communities.