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.
A resolution by Mayor David Coss of Santa Fe calling for a change in the way ICE conducts workplace raids of immigrants has been passed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Miami.
The mayor, who has been an outspoken advocate for tolerance of immigrants, reportedly shepherded the resolution first through the mayor’s Criminal and Social Justice standing committee. It was then passed by the entire conference.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Worksite Enforcement resolution says the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] has stepped up its immigrant enforcement and often acts on anonymous tips from competitors of legitimate businesses. This practice hurts legitimate businesses, which might be provoked into leaving the country, taking with them valuable jobs.
The resolution calls on ICE to make better use of its limited resources and:
"Develop a national policy for its workforce enforcement activities that focuses on employers with a demonstrated history or reasonable suspicion of engaging in exploitative practices, such as violation of wage, hour or occupational safety laws and regulations."
It also asks that ICE "not prioritize responsible employers for worksite enforcement activities before accurate verification systems are available or comprehensive immigration reform regularizes the status of workers on whom they rely."
ICE should also "strive to keep in close communication with the nation’s mayors when conducting worksite enforcement activities in their communities."
The resolution makes the point that "the United States is a nation of immigrants, the overwhelming majority of whom are making an important and positive contribution to both our economy and our culture."
Immigration reform is one of the most pressing issues facing the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the resolution says, yet the federal government has failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform:
"A consequence of such inaction has been a dramatic increase in identity theft of the Social Security numbers of U.S. citizens" and "responsible employers often have to rely on documentation that appears facially valid in order to determine an individuals’ status…"
"Some employers will prey upon undocumented workers with substandard wages, long hours and unsafe working conditions, knowing these workers will not complain to authorities."
The entire resolution can be read on the U.S. Conference of Mayors Web site.
