GOVERNOR’S LACK OF ACTION AND CALLOUS ATTITUDE AT THE BORDER ENDANGER LIVES AND COMMUNITIES
| Albuquerque, May 9—The Republican Party of New Mexico denounces Gov. Lujan Grisham for doing nothing to address the growing immigration calamity at New Mexico’s southern border as the Biden administration seeks to end Title 42. The Governor has ignored this crisis for years. Now, with Title 42 to be lifted, Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security are expecting a surge of migrants at the southern border, including here in New Mexico. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas predicts that border encounters could rise from more than 7,000 per day now to more than 18,000 when Title 42 ends. Even some national Democrats have raised serious concerns about President Biden’s planned move. They recognize the dangers and irresponsibility of ending Title 42 and are urging Biden to keep it in place. At present, shelters are packed with migrants who were expelled from the U.S. because of Title 42, and they are now waiting for the policy to end so they can cross again. Lujan Grisham has already exacerbated this catastrophe: thousands of migrants have flooded into New Mexico, bringing COVID and taking jobs. Drug trafficking, human trafficking and other crimes are increasing because undocumented migrants are flooding our communities. “Gov. Lujan Grisham continues to be derelict in her duty to protect New Mexicans,” said Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce. “Should Title 42 end, there will be a tidal wave of migrants pouring in our state. They will keep coming into New Mexico without criminal background checks and proper health checks. Border towns are being threatened. These migrants are also taking away benefits and jobs from New Mexicans. Lujan Grisham remains idle. Pleas for help at our border fall on the Governor’s deaf ears. This is why we must replace her in November.” This inept Governor, who is consistently soft on crime, refused to heed calls for help from state lawmakers, sheriffs from Hidalgo, Sierra and Luna counties and others to attack this dangerous problem head-on. The Governor never called up the National Guard to deal with the border crisis. The Republican Texas and Arizona governors quickly took action to protect their borders, sending their National Guard, increasing patrols and fighting off the cartels. Other GOP governors have responded – 26 state chief executives recently launched a Border Strike Force which will help secure the southern border by sharing intelligence, strengthening cyber-security and improving efforts to protect children and families. Lujan Grisham and President Biden have done nothing, and ending Title 42 will continue an ongoing humanitarian and national security crisis on our southern border. In March, 221,303 illegal immigrants were apprehended at the southern border, the highest number of monthly illegal border crossings in DHS history. Under Biden’s watch, fiscal year 2022 is on pace to be the single worst year since Border Patrol began keeping track in 1924. In Biden’s first 14 months in office, there have been more than 2,498,000 illegal immigrant encounters. When counting encounters and “gotaways,” there have now been more than 3.1 million illegal immigrant crossings since Biden took office. |
| The Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) advances the ideals of individual liberties for the advancement of its citizens and the greater prosperity of our communities throughout New Mexico. Led by an Executive Board and its Chairman, former NM Congressman Steve Pearce, RPNM serves all New Mexicans via its headquarters in Albuquerque and can be contacted at (505) 298-3662. |
