Commentary: Local elected leaders announced statewide support for a pathway to citizenship for New Mexico’s undocumented essential workers through Congress’ budget reconciliation package during a press conference on Wednesday.
“We know our communities and our economies are surviving during this pandemic because of essential workers,” said Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller during the virtual press conference.
Congress is currently in the process of taking historic steps to deliver a budget that would modernize key sectors of the economy, including the immigration system which includes a pathway to citizenship for essential workers and agricultural workers. The New Mexico Congressional delegation has strong local support for bold action in Washington on legalization.
Ninety (90) elected leaders from dozens of cities and counties in the state—including mayors, state legislators, council members, and school board members—signed on to a statewide letter and joined approximately 600 more local elected officials across the country to urge President Biden and Congress to prioritize the inclusion of a clean pathway to citizenship for essential workers and agricultural workers in the current budget reconciliation process.
“I could not say no to this effort. I have seen the many contributions of immigrant residents in my district. The time has come for a pathway to citizenship for essential workers and their families,” said New Mexico State Representative Roger Montoya of Velarde.
About 60,000 New Mexicans could qualify for legalization as essential workers, according to the American Immigration Council. New Mexican undocumented essential workers and families have an outsized impact on the New Mexico workforce in key industries. About 13% of the New Mexico workforce is foreign born, while only 9.4% of the population is immigrant. Immigrant workers are key to the oil and gas industry, agriculture, home health care and traditional health care, construction, retail, hospitality, and the restaurant industries.
“COVID shined the light on how essential immigrant workers are. The majority of essential workers are immigrants. We know our Congressional delegation will fight for a pathway to citizenship and for us,” said Las Cruces City Councilor Gabe Vasquez during the press conference.
“In my district, many children have at least one immigrant parent. Mixed status families should have access to all the same resources as other families. The financial health of my city relies on the industries where essential workers are present,” said City of Santa Fe Councilor Roman Abetya.
During the virtual press conference, organized by New Mexico’s largest immigrant-based organizations Somos Un Pueblo Unido, EL CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos, and New Mexico CAFé, local elected officials shared why it is crucial for their communities, local economies and a robust post-pandemic recovery that Congress acts on a path to citizenship this year. Officials cited increased wages, a larger tax base, inclusion in all stimulus and economic relief programs, financial stability, stronger worker protections, public health, and child wellbeing as important benefits of legalization.
Participants also spoke to New Mexico’s cutting edge policies meant to integrate mixed status families including access to college and scholarships, drivers’ licenses, health care, tax credits and rebates, COVID-19 economic relief, public safety services, and other immigrant-friendly policies.
Representatives from the offices of Congresswomen Teresa Leger Fernandez and Melanie Stansbury also participated with public shows of support.
To see the New Mexico letter with signatories, click here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GZUHJ2hqfBPXALi3Y634jggcfq12RdssEHN89sINsZ4/edit?usp=sharing
To see the national letter with signatories, click here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eahYj0ETn-Su9K2bNtSpWlqhLlNucTQNkNpqTVlnYUc/edit
To see the recording of the press conference on youtube click here: https://youtu.be/D1xH_Npr8q8
