NM should not follow Texas’ disastrous immigration policies: Letters to the Editor

El Paso Times
Migrants walk in the dry bed of the Rio Grande between Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas on April 25, 2024. Despite the increased infrastructure put in place by the Texas National Guard migrants who can make it to Mexico's northern border have been able to break the concertina wire in hopes of turning themselves to Border Patrol for processing.

NM should not follow Texas’ disastrous immigration policies

In his latest op-ed, New Mexico State Rep. Rod Montoya called for New Mexico to take “bold action” on immigration by advocating for policies that would set New Mexico back, harming long-time residents and newcomers alike.Rep. Montoya seeks to emulate Texas’ cruel border misadventure. This lawless debacle costs Texans billions, sets lose their state police with reckless disregard for public safety or human wellbeing, and leads to more migrant deaths at our border. It is depraved to see these dead immigrants, people seeking safety and a better life, as a public policy goal worth striving for.Likewise, curtailing driver's license access will not stop our undocumented neighbors from driving. It will keep them from getting insurance, making driving costlier and unsafe. This is ineffective and wasteful.Rather than Rep. Montoya’s hateful approach, we are better off promoting immigrant integration and uplifting the dignity and humanity of everyone in our state. New Mexico should embrace efforts like the Dignity, Not Detention Act that move us toward this goal.

We should remember that welcoming people and allowing them to claim asylum is not just the law of the United States; it is humane. Immigrants are a bedrock of New Mexico’s vibrant culture and economy. Now is our time to lead the country with policies that welcome newcomers, not follow the many missteps of Texas’ disastrous policies.

Zoe Bowman

Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Stop complaining and do something

Too many of us spend a lot of time pointing out the problems with our government but absolutely no time doing anything about it. In many ways, not taking any action in itself is an action. That action says, “I am satisfied.” If that is not true and you are not satisfied, then what are you going to do about it?

Here are a few things you can do:

Stand up and be counted. Post something about your beliefs on Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.

Write your congressman. Some assistant, of an assistant, will read it and, just maybe, pass along your thoughts to a congressman.

Write a letter to the newspaper editor. (Politicians do read those letters.)

Give money to your candidate. This will get you on a mailing list, often with updates on what your representative is doing.

Research the candidates before you vote and vote for yours even if no one else is voting for them.

Sign or create a petition.

Look for and join like-minded organizations (Common Cause, Fair Vote, League of Women Voters, U.S. Term Limits, Thirty-Thousand.org, All on the Line.org, Indivisible.org, Free Speech for People, Brennan Center for Justice, Equal Citizens, Fighting Disinformation, etc.).

Stop complaining and do something. You can make a difference.

Robert Vines

Horizon City

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: NM, don't follow Texas’ disastrous immigration policies: Letters to the Editor

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