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.