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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham asks feds to not send migrants to New Mexico

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham asks feds to not send migrants to New Mexico
DISASTER DECLARATION IF FLOODING HAPPENS. >> THE GOVERNOR SENT A LETTER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMENDLA SECURITY ASKGIN THEM TO NOT TRANSPORT MIGRANTS. >> THOSE WHO ADVOCATE FOR MIGRANTS SEE THE MOVIE BY THE GOVERNOR COMES AS A BIG SURPRISE AS LAST YEAR SHE WELCOMED AFGHAN REFUGEES WITH ENOP AS.RM SHE SAYS RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME AS NEW MEXICO IS FACI ANG CRISIS. >> SOME HAD A FEELING DAYS AGO THAT -- >> I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. >>ND A WHEN SHE MADE THE REQSTUE TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ON TUESDAY, ADVOCATES FOR MIGRANTS WERE SHKEOC >> IT WAS COMPLETELY DISHEARTENING AND SHOCKING, REALLY, TO THE IMMIGRANT COMMITUN >> SHE SAID THE EXISTING EMERGENCY ARISING FROM THESE WILD FOR -- WILDFIRES HAVE SEVERELY TAXED THE CAPACITY OF OUR STATES. I CANNOT ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY OF THE STATE OF NEW MECOOXI SHELLED -- SHOULDER ADDITIONAL BURDENS. >> MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SOCIAL BENEFITS LIKE ORDINARY AMERICANS DO SO I DO NOT THINK THAT IS AN ACCURATE STATEMENT. >> SHE IAS SENIOR ATTORNEY AT THE NEW MEXICO IMMIGRATION LAW CENT ANDER SAYS MIGRANTS COMING TO NEW MEXICO ARE NOT DRAINING RESOURCES BECAUSE ONCE THEY COME TO TOWN AND THEY ARE NOT HEER VERY LONG. IN A STATEMENT FROM THE CITY THEY TELL US THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE’S ROLEX THIS TIME IS TO PROVIDE SHELTER IN A HOTEL SO THAT THEY CAN BE HOUSED FOR A DAY OR TWO WHILE THEY MAKE THEIR WAY BY BUS OR PLANE BY THEIR OWN EXPENSE. >> THE VAST MAJORITY OF MIGRANTS HAVE FAMILYND A COMMUNITIES ALL THROUGHOUT THE U.S. READY AND ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM. >> MAKING A MOVE LIKE THIS ON A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC IS SURE TO GET ATTENTION. WE ASKED OUR POLITICAL EXPERT HOW HE THINKTHS WILL AFFECT THE CAMPAIGN. >> NEW MEXICANS ARE DIVIDED ON THIS ISSUE SO NO MATTER WHAT STANCE YOU TAKE YOU ARE GOING TO PLEASE SOME PEOPLE AND DISPLEASE OTHERS. >> IT IS UNCLEAR WNHE THEROUP G OF MIGRANTS IS EXPECTED TO SHOW
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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham asks feds to not send migrants to New Mexico
Some had a feeling days ago that New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was going to tell the feds not to send migrants to the Land of Enchantment. In a statement made on Tuesday, Grisham said, "The existing emergency arising from these wildfires has severely taxed the capacity of our state to provide resources to non-New Mexicans. I cannot allow the governments and communities of the state of New Mexico to shoulder additional burdens falling squarely within the federal government's purview." “The truth of the matter is, migrants and asylum seekers do not have access to social benefits like ordinary Americans do. So I don't think that is an accurate statement,” Sophia Genovese said. Genovese is a senior attorney at the New Mexico Immigration Law Center, she says migrants coming to New Mexico are not draining resources because once they come to town, they aren't here very long. “The vast majority of migrants and asylum seekers have family. They have communities all throughout the United States ready and able to support them,” Genovese said. Making a move like this on a controversial topic in an election year is sure to get attention. We asked our political expert how he thinks this will affect her campaign. “New Mexicans are divided on this issue regarding asylum seekers. And so no matter what, stand your take, you're going to please some people and displace others,” said KOAT Political Analyst Brian Sanderoff.

Some had a feeling days ago that New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was going to tell the feds not to send migrants to the Land of Enchantment.

In a statement made on Tuesday, Grisham said, "The existing emergency arising from these wildfires has severely taxed the capacity of our state to provide resources to non-New Mexicans. I cannot allow the governments and communities of the state of New Mexico to shoulder additional burdens falling squarely within the federal government's purview."

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“The truth of the matter is, migrants and asylum seekers do not have access to social benefits like ordinary Americans do. So I don't think that is an accurate statement,” Sophia Genovese said.

Genovese is a senior attorney at the New Mexico Immigration Law Center, she says migrants coming to New Mexico are not draining resources because once they come to town, they aren't here very long.

“The vast majority of migrants and asylum seekers have family. They have communities all throughout the United States ready and able to support them,” Genovese said.

Making a move like this on a controversial topic in an election year is sure to get attention. We asked our political expert how he thinks this will affect her campaign.

“New Mexicans are divided on this issue regarding asylum seekers. And so no matter what, stand your take, you're going to please some people and displace others,” said KOAT Political Analyst Brian Sanderoff.