LAS CRUCES, NM — On Tuesday, the Doña Ana County (DAC) Commission approved an update to its “Safe Communities for All” Resolution” on a 4-0 vote.
This is another victory for New Mexicans and immigrant families, with commissioners voting to create safe community spaces at all county-owned and operated facilities. In March, Albuquerque passed a similar “Safety and Privacy in Community Spaces” ordinance that prohibits the use of city property, (including courthouses, parks, offices, and maintenance facilities) as staging areas for civil immigration enforcement. And in February, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the “Immigrant Safety Act” to prohibit law enforcement agencies from signing agreements with the federal government to work as immigration enforcement, and to outlaw state involvement in immigration detention.
This resolution, which builds on a resolution first passed in 2014, enacts stronger protections for residents, regardless of immigration status, to ensure that vital county services and spaces can continue to be accessed without intimidation or fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations, including courthouses, community centers, healthcare facilities, and other venues. This resolution will protect human rights, due process, and embrace New Mexico’s values as a diverse, cultural, and united state.
“What I see is the federal government trying to bully local governments. …I think it’s a perfect time for us to join the city of Albuquerque, the city of Las Cruces, and some other neighbors, to be able to state that the federal government won’t bully us.” Commission Chair Manuel Sanchez said as he opened discussion on the resolution.
“Hearing directly from our community members that many of our communities already have targets on their back, because of where we are, right here in the borderlands, right next to El Paso, with the people in Chaparal, people in Santa Teresa, Sunland Park and so on, we’ve seen ICE come through our neighborhoods. Again I just want to reiterate, our role is not for immigration enforcement, it is here to serve the people of Doña Ana County,” Sanchez said.
Among the provisions, the county would:
• Designate all county-owned or -operated properties as “Safer Community Places,” ensuring that residents can access services and spaces without fear of discrimination or immigration enforcement activities.
• Develop policies to prohibit voluntary consent for immigration enforcement agents to enter non-public areas or access sensitive records in county facilities, except under a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or in exigent circumstances.
• Identify county-owned and controlled structures or venues, including but not limited to parking lots, vacant lots, garages, parks, and similar structures or venues that either have been used, or are likely to be used in the future, as a staging area, processing location, or operations base for the purpose of immigration enforcement.
• Implement a policy to ensure staff training and the posting of clear signage marking non-public spaces within County buildings and County funded facilities.
• Not approve any permit, contract or other agreement if the county, its employees, contractors, or agents have a reasonable belief the property or resources will be used for the purposes of facilitating immigration enforcement.
NM CAFé has organized to support this amendment, from contacting Commissioner Chair Manuel Sanchez to community outreach, prepping leaders to defend the resolution, and to the celebration at the board meeting when DAC commissioners passed the amended resolution unanimously.
“You have shown where your heart is,” said Sister Mary Ann Azanza of the Sisters of Assumption in Chaparral. “I want to say thank you for recognizing every person in Chaparral. Our community will survive this, our community is strong, it’s resilient. We will continue to care for each other and provide for each other, and do what is needed for each other. But to know that we have your support, and we have your protection, and that you have our interests’ at heart makes such a difference. And I know that when we go back to Chaparral and we speak to the families who are scared, who look for help, where they can find it, that we can say to them, your county stands with you, will be a big thing,” she said.
The destructive and cruel policies of the current administration have no home here in New Mexico and NM CAFé is proud that our county officials have granted our residents further protections. While the fight for families, equality, and democracy continue, and the road doesn’t stop here, we are grateful to experience this milestone.
“Today, Dona Ana County commissioners spoke up for the most vulnerable members of our community. Immigrant families will know that when it comes to unlawful and cruel immigration enforcement, our county stood on the side of protecting people,” said Sylvia Ulloa, executive director of NM CAFe.
