West Side Dems Educates Voters on Protecting Immigrants in NM
Introduction
Incoming President Trump’s threats to round up immigrants who are
undocumented have raised concerns across the country but especially in border states like New Mexico. While no details of his round up have been shared with the public, state and local governments around the country have been setting policies and seeking other avenues to protect our vulnerable families and individuals in their jurisdiction.
The West Side Dems Executive Committee concludes that this is an important issue for West Side voters and like-minded voters across the state. That is why we are taking a role in educating our members and friends about the immigration issue.
WSD Immigration Meeting Opens Eyes and Minds
By Sue Wolinsky
About 50 mostly West Siders (many of whom who had not previously attended a WSD meeting) were at the WSD meeting on immigration held on January 11, 2025, at the West Mesa Community Center. We held this meeting now because immigration is high on the president-elect’s list of
priorities. New Mexico, as a border state, is especially vulnerable to any immigration action that he may take.
Our panel included experts in this field, as well as Terry Rich of WSD, who gave a brief update of immigration action at the federal level.
- Iris Calderon, an immigration attorney; and her husband, BERNCO County Assessor Damian Lara, also an immigration attorney.
- Josefina Dominguez, a member of the APS Board of Education and an immigrant, herself.
- Recently elected District 9 State Senator Cindy Nava, a former DACA recipient.
- Sonya Lara, City of ABQ Office of Equity & Inclusion.
The panelists shared personal experiences and experiences of immigrants in NM, as well as current immigration laws and policies that exist in NM.
Some of the non-immigrants in the audience were shocked at some of the information shared. That is good, because the meeting was designed to
educate the audience and to identify actions that WSD members and others
attending would commit to take to help our immigrant neighbors.
APS School Board Member Dominguez identified several areas where action
is needed. The actions were recorded on a white board. They included:
- Taking action to contact State Legislators in the 2025 60-day session about immigration bills.
- Taking action so the State Board of Education will ensure that all students in public and charter schools are safe from immigration roundups.
- Taking action so APD Security and Albuquerque Police Department (APD) cooperate on issues related to immigration status of students
- Taking action regarding the NM State Police’s treatment of immigrants.
- Taking action regarding MVD record availability to ICE.
- Taking action to support local immigration advocates, such as El Centro, NM Immigrants Law Center, the Refuge Community, and others.
- Taking action to obtain and distribute information about how immigrants can prepare for a raid; the NM ACLU sells the palm cards.
Here are additional actions that attorneys Iris Calderon and Damian Lara offered:
- Stay informed. Follow immigration news and stay updated.
- Speak up and speak out. Advocate for immigrant rights.
- Share on social media. Use your platform to raise awareness.
- Support organizations. Contribute to groups providing direct services
to immigrants and refugees. You can contribute money or your time
(translation, ESL classes, help them access community resources).
- Advocate for policy change. Lobby for fair immigration laws. Support reforms that crease pathways to citizenship.
- Create task groups. Join with others. Collaborate with like-minded individuals.
- Let your elected representatives know where you stand on issues. Voice your opinions on immigration policies. If your representatives are voting on an immigration related bill, they should be able to explain the bill and its consequences.
- Become a Legal Observer. As a Legal Observer, you can ensure demonstrators’ rights are not violated.
Six audience members posted action items they are willing to take:
- A few mentioned joining the ACLU, taking their training and getting
involved in their actions.
- A few mentioned contacting our legislators and the Speaker of the NM House about advocating for alignment of police agencies’ policies on immigration issues.
- A few mentioned supporting local immigrant and refugee
organizations.