I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
One of Albuquerque’s mayoral candidates is calling one of his opponent’s campaign themes divisive.
Former State Senate President Pro Tem Richard Romero said that State Rep. Richard Berry’s charge that Albuquerque is a “sanctuary city” is a “politically-charged wedge issue” meant to serve no purpose other than to divide the community.
Berry has been campaigning on the theme that the Albuquerque Police Department’s policy of not questioning people about their immigration status when making routine stops or when answering calls for assistance makes it a magnet for criminals. He’s spoken about at campaign forums, called a press conference to discuss it early in the summer, and has sent out mail pieces about what he terms the city’s “sanctuary city” policies.
Here is the full statement Romero released Friday:
As I have been saying throughout this campaign, this is a politically-charged, wedge issue that serves no good purpose in our political debate other than to divide the community.
The border patrol and immigration customs enforcement—or ICE—are in full operation in our city, working with the courts and jail system to deal with criminals on a daily basis.
We don’t need our police doing the work of federal immigration enforcement. We need our police doing gang intervention work and community policing that works to reduce our growing rates of property crime.
Albuquerque is one of the most cultural cities in America. We pride ourselves on our diversity. We market our tourism based on our culture. As Mayor, I would continue to promote our community as a cultural tourist destination and not let politically-charged issues such as using the term ‘Sanctuary City’ hurt our progress.
