Governor goes to DC to talk border issues, ask for funding
https://www.koat.com/article/govern...ss-nm-border-situation-seeks-funding/27562571
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
New Mexico has become a key player in the immigration and border wall debate, and now Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is in Washington,D.C., meeting with federal officials to discuss New Mexico's border situation.
According to a spokesperson for the governor's office, weeks of phone conversations between Lujan Grisham and acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan
have finally led to a sit-down meeting.
"The governor wants to continue to urge the federal government to increase its personnel on the border as a means of improving the logistical and communications output," said spokesman Tripp Stelnicki.
Our partners at the Albuquerque Journal report that the governor is also seeking federal reimbursement for humanitarian assistance, more federal staffing and other resources.
"She declares there's no crisis. She removes the National Guard and now she's there asking for money," said Steve Pearce, the chairman of the New Mexico Republican Party.
Earlier this year, Lujan Grisham said there was no crisis at the southern border and a few weeks later removed the National Guard troops. Pearce said the governor needs to acknowledge what the real problem at the border is.
"Everything in her actions indicate that she believes there's a crisis, but yet she will not dedicate the resources or request to her colleagues in Congress to start passing the laws that will change the situation there," Pearce said.
Stelnicki said one of the big problems New Mexico communities face is not knowing what's coming or when. Pearce said he doesn't believe an end is in sight.
"The border communities are going to continue to be overrun," Pearce said.
Lujan Grisham is hoping some of these conversations alleviate some of the pressure our border communities are currently facing. Stelnicki said the governor also wants to address the Otero County situation, where local officials were upset by the federal decision to pull resources away from a checkpoint.
The governor will be back Thursday evening.
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New Mexico counties revolt against migrant releases
by Adam Hay
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...revolt-against-migrant-releases-idUSKCN1SS330
TAOS, N.M. (Reuters) - Two more New Mexico counties have declared their opposition to taking in migrants in a growing revolt against federal authorities dropping off a surge in Central American families in the state’s rural, southern communities.
The record influx of asylum seekers has overwhelmed border detention facilities and shelters, forcing U.S. immigration authorities to bus migrants to nearby cities and even fly them to California.
Las Cruces, New Mexico, has received over 6,000 migrants since April 12. Deming, population 14,183, gets 300 to 500 a day, according to City Administrator Aaron Sera.
Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has dismissed President Donald Trump’s claims of a border security crisis and advocated a humanitarian response. She is in Washington seeking federal funds to reimburse cities that give support.
But some New Mexico counties say they want nothing to do with sheltering migrants, with officials saying the governor’s approach may worsen the border crisis.
Sierra County, population 11,116, was one of two Republican-controlled New Mexico counties to pass resolutions on Tuesday evening opposing the relocation of migrants to their communities.
Sierra County also called on Trump to close the border to immigration to end the crisis.
“We have to take care of our veterans, our seniors, our residents, first and foremost,” said County Manager Bruce Swingle. “We’re a very impoverished county.”
Sierra County has a median annual household income of $29,690 and a 21 percent poverty rate, according to Data USA.
‘FEEDING PIGEONS’
To the east, Lincoln County passed a resolution that it was not prepared to spend taxpayer dollars on housing “illegal immigrants,” said Commissioner Tom Stewart.
“We have a tight budget and need to focus on a new hospital that we are building,” Stewart said. “As long as we continue to extend citizen benefits to unregistered aliens the flows will continue.”
The moves followed a similar May 2 resolution by neighboring Otero County.
County Commission Chairman Couy Griffin said sheltering migrants sent the wrong message to other Central Americans thinking of leaving their homes and would deepen the border crisis.
“If you begin to feed pigeons in the parking lot, pretty soon you have every pigeon in town,” Griffin said.
Lujan Grisham spokesman Tripp Stelnicki said there was no evidence humanitarian aid encouraged people to leave their homes.
“They are moving because they have no other choice and its frankly un-American to suggest we close our doors to people in need,” he said.
The border situation is taking a tragic toll on the migrants themselves. On Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees unaccompanied child migrants, said a 10-year-old girl from El Salvador died in its custody in September, bringing to six the number of children who have died in U.S. custody, or shortly after release, in the last eight months.
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Frustration boils over at border security town hall in Deming
By Algernon D'Ammassa/Las Cruces Sun-News
https://www.abqjournal.com/1290474/...r-at-border-security-town-hall-in-deming.html
DEMING – In a departure from previous border security meetings that have convened periodically in Grant, Hidalgo and Luna counties, a meeting held in Deming on Saturday featured no representatives from the U.S. Border Patrol or other law enforcement agencies. There were also no congressional staff representatives present.
Instead, the meeting at Deming’s First United Methodist Church was a venue for residents to express frustration over human trafficking, increased apprehensions of migrants at the border, and immigration policy broadly.
Hundreds packed the church’s gymnasium. When asked to call out their places of residence, attendees named counties all over New Mexico, plus many from Arizona and El Paso.
Outside the church, a lone demonstrator wore a sign that read, “What would Jesus do with refugees?” Inside, however, the talk was of “illegals,” with a consensus that border security is inadequate and immigration is out of control.
The event’s organizer, Russ Howell, is the Luna County Republican Party chair.
There were standing ovations following calls to “build the damn wall” and loud jeering of New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the state’s congressional delegation, who are all Democrats.
A staff representative for the state Republican Party drew applause after calling on the assembly to “vote red.”
Speakers included 2018 Republican candidates Gavin Clarkson of Las Cruces, who ran for Secretary of State, and former state Rep. Yvette Herrell of Alamogordo, who has announced her second run for the U.S. House seat currently held by Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, D-N.M.
State of emergency on the border
At first, the three-hour meeting focused on public health and security concerns along the border.
A recurring complaint was the governor’s February statement that she saw no “overwhelming national security crisis” at the border.
https://www.koat.com/article/govern...ss-nm-border-situation-seeks-funding/27562571
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
New Mexico has become a key player in the immigration and border wall debate, and now Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is in Washington,D.C., meeting with federal officials to discuss New Mexico's border situation.
According to a spokesperson for the governor's office, weeks of phone conversations between Lujan Grisham and acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan
have finally led to a sit-down meeting.
"The governor wants to continue to urge the federal government to increase its personnel on the border as a means of improving the logistical and communications output," said spokesman Tripp Stelnicki.
Our partners at the Albuquerque Journal report that the governor is also seeking federal reimbursement for humanitarian assistance, more federal staffing and other resources.
"She declares there's no crisis. She removes the National Guard and now she's there asking for money," said Steve Pearce, the chairman of the New Mexico Republican Party.
Earlier this year, Lujan Grisham said there was no crisis at the southern border and a few weeks later removed the National Guard troops. Pearce said the governor needs to acknowledge what the real problem at the border is.
"Everything in her actions indicate that she believes there's a crisis, but yet she will not dedicate the resources or request to her colleagues in Congress to start passing the laws that will change the situation there," Pearce said.
Stelnicki said one of the big problems New Mexico communities face is not knowing what's coming or when. Pearce said he doesn't believe an end is in sight.
"The border communities are going to continue to be overrun," Pearce said.
Lujan Grisham is hoping some of these conversations alleviate some of the pressure our border communities are currently facing. Stelnicki said the governor also wants to address the Otero County situation, where local officials were upset by the federal decision to pull resources away from a checkpoint.
The governor will be back Thursday evening.
--------------
New Mexico counties revolt against migrant releases
by Adam Hay
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...revolt-against-migrant-releases-idUSKCN1SS330
TAOS, N.M. (Reuters) - Two more New Mexico counties have declared their opposition to taking in migrants in a growing revolt against federal authorities dropping off a surge in Central American families in the state’s rural, southern communities.
The record influx of asylum seekers has overwhelmed border detention facilities and shelters, forcing U.S. immigration authorities to bus migrants to nearby cities and even fly them to California.
Las Cruces, New Mexico, has received over 6,000 migrants since April 12. Deming, population 14,183, gets 300 to 500 a day, according to City Administrator Aaron Sera.
Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has dismissed President Donald Trump’s claims of a border security crisis and advocated a humanitarian response. She is in Washington seeking federal funds to reimburse cities that give support.
But some New Mexico counties say they want nothing to do with sheltering migrants, with officials saying the governor’s approach may worsen the border crisis.
Sierra County, population 11,116, was one of two Republican-controlled New Mexico counties to pass resolutions on Tuesday evening opposing the relocation of migrants to their communities.
Sierra County also called on Trump to close the border to immigration to end the crisis.
“We have to take care of our veterans, our seniors, our residents, first and foremost,” said County Manager Bruce Swingle. “We’re a very impoverished county.”
Sierra County has a median annual household income of $29,690 and a 21 percent poverty rate, according to Data USA.
‘FEEDING PIGEONS’
To the east, Lincoln County passed a resolution that it was not prepared to spend taxpayer dollars on housing “illegal immigrants,” said Commissioner Tom Stewart.
“We have a tight budget and need to focus on a new hospital that we are building,” Stewart said. “As long as we continue to extend citizen benefits to unregistered aliens the flows will continue.”
The moves followed a similar May 2 resolution by neighboring Otero County.
County Commission Chairman Couy Griffin said sheltering migrants sent the wrong message to other Central Americans thinking of leaving their homes and would deepen the border crisis.
“If you begin to feed pigeons in the parking lot, pretty soon you have every pigeon in town,” Griffin said.
Lujan Grisham spokesman Tripp Stelnicki said there was no evidence humanitarian aid encouraged people to leave their homes.
“They are moving because they have no other choice and its frankly un-American to suggest we close our doors to people in need,” he said.
The border situation is taking a tragic toll on the migrants themselves. On Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees unaccompanied child migrants, said a 10-year-old girl from El Salvador died in its custody in September, bringing to six the number of children who have died in U.S. custody, or shortly after release, in the last eight months.
-------
Frustration boils over at border security town hall in Deming
By Algernon D'Ammassa/Las Cruces Sun-News
https://www.abqjournal.com/1290474/...r-at-border-security-town-hall-in-deming.html
DEMING – In a departure from previous border security meetings that have convened periodically in Grant, Hidalgo and Luna counties, a meeting held in Deming on Saturday featured no representatives from the U.S. Border Patrol or other law enforcement agencies. There were also no congressional staff representatives present.
Instead, the meeting at Deming’s First United Methodist Church was a venue for residents to express frustration over human trafficking, increased apprehensions of migrants at the border, and immigration policy broadly.
Hundreds packed the church’s gymnasium. When asked to call out their places of residence, attendees named counties all over New Mexico, plus many from Arizona and El Paso.
Outside the church, a lone demonstrator wore a sign that read, “What would Jesus do with refugees?” Inside, however, the talk was of “illegals,” with a consensus that border security is inadequate and immigration is out of control.
The event’s organizer, Russ Howell, is the Luna County Republican Party chair.
There were standing ovations following calls to “build the damn wall” and loud jeering of New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the state’s congressional delegation, who are all Democrats.
A staff representative for the state Republican Party drew applause after calling on the assembly to “vote red.”
Speakers included 2018 Republican candidates Gavin Clarkson of Las Cruces, who ran for Secretary of State, and former state Rep. Yvette Herrell of Alamogordo, who has announced her second run for the U.S. House seat currently held by Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, D-N.M.
State of emergency on the border
At first, the three-hour meeting focused on public health and security concerns along the border.
A recurring complaint was the governor’s February statement that she saw no “overwhelming national security crisis” at the border.
