Albuquerque – On Wednesday, immigrant‑rights organization El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos gathered at its headquarters to voice alarm over a surge in ICE activity across New Mexico and what members described as racial profiling of illegal immigrants. Lead organizer Fabiola Landeros told the assembled families, “We are angry about what is happening,” and urged the community and elected officials to stand firm against what she called discriminatory enforcement.
Recent ICE actions spark local outcry
The press conference followed a high‑profile ICE operation in Santa Fe that resulted in the arrest of Edgar Chacon‑Miranda. The Department of Homeland Security labeled him a “criminal illegal alien” based on several 2018 charges, but KOAT later reported that a judge dismissed all four counts after the state failed to prosecute.
Landeros warned that the incident highlights a broader pattern of targeting people because of “the color of their skin, the language we speak, or assumptions about their immigration status.” She said families who have lived in New Mexico for years now fear sudden detention and separation.
City officials reaffirm sanctuary‑style protections
Mayor Doug Small, Director of Public Affairs, attended the event and assured attendees that the mayor’s office and the city of Albuquerque remain committed to protecting immigrant families. “I can assure you, the mayor, the members of his administration, and the city of Albuquerque stand with our immigrant communities. And that is not going to change any time soon,” Small said.
One of the key safeguards cited is Albuquerque’s Safer Community Places Ordinance, which designates city facilities as safe zones where civil immigration enforcement is limited in non‑public areas. The ordinance is intended to keep schools, libraries and other public spaces free from sudden ICE raids, thereby preserving the safety of children and families.
State Republicans push back
Republican state Senator Anthony Thornton criticized the city’s sanctuary policies, arguing they impede federal immigration enforcement. “I think they should be allowed to operate in our state without having to deal with pushback from the public when they’re just doing their job,” Thornton said, adding that such policies hinder law‑enforcement’s ability to address illegal activity.
House Republican Leader Gail Armstrong echoed those concerns, linking sanctuary measures to broader public‑safety challenges. “New Mexico continues to struggle with violent crime, yet Democrats would rather attack federal law enforcement than confront the policies that helped create this crisis,” she wrote. Armstrong emphasized that federal immigration law remains the law and that protecting law‑abiding families should take precedence over political theater.
Community response
Despite the partisan divide, many attendees expressed pride in the solidarity shown at the press conference. Landeros said, “It makes me sad and angry. But seeing all these people here with us made me feel proud of my community.” The organization also encouraged anyone in Santa Fe needing assistance to contact the “Somos un Pueblo Unido” outreach effort.
The debate over sanctuary policies in Albuquerque reflects a larger national conversation about the balance between federal immigration enforcement and local autonomy. As ICE activity appears to increase, immigrant families and advocacy groups will likely continue to press city leaders for robust protections, while state Republicans push for greater cooperation with federal authorities.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
