2018 NM Governor's race: on Immigration


Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Withdraw troops from Mexican border: there's no emergency

Gov. Lujan Grisham has ordered the majority of National Guard troops deployed at her state's Southern border to withdraw, condemning what she called a "charade of border fear-mongering" by President Trump, who has warned of an immigration emergency in th region. "I reject the federal contention that there exists an overwhelming national security crisis at the Southern border," Lujan Grisham said, adding that the area has "some of the safest communities in the country."

Lujan Grisham ordered the withdrawal just before Trump delivered his State of the Union address, in which he railed against illegal immigration and labeled a group of mainly Central American migrants as "illegal immigrants"--despite the fact that most of them are traveling with legal humanitarian visas.

Lujan Grisham rejected the idea that a national emergency exists along her state's border with Mexico. But she also said some troops will remain in southwestern NM, saying they're needed to fulfill a humanitarian mission.

Source: NPR Fact-Check on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race Feb 6, 2019

Susana Martinez: Deploy National Guard troops on Mexican border

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has ordered the majority of National Guard troops deployed at her state's Southern border to withdraw, condemning what she called a "charade of border fear-mongering" by President Trump, who has warned of an immigration emergency in the region. "I reject the federal contention that there exists an overwhelming national security crisis at the Southern border," Lujan Grisham said, adding that the area has "some of the safest communities in the country."

The governor's order covers most of New Mexico's deployed troops, along with Guard members who have traveled from AR, KS, KY, NH, SC, and WI. In all, 118 National Guard troops have been deployed in New Mexico, the governor's office said.

New Mexico sent National Guard troops to the border last April in an order from then-Gov. Susana Martinez that followed a White House proclamation. At least five states, including two led by Republicans, rejected the president's call to send troops.

Source: NPR Fact-Check on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race Feb 6, 2019

Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Supports earned path to citizenship for DREAMers and others

Q: Support DREAM Act (DACA), allowing "Dreamers" who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, to achieve legal status if meet certain conditions?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Worked to protect their status. Supports earned path to citizenship, for DACA recipients and illegal immigrants in general.

Steve Pearce (R): Yes. On DACA, proposed 10-year "conditional protected status" with option to renew but no path to citizenship. Supports guest worker program, without amnesty.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Steve Pearce: Supports earned path to citizenship over a 10-year period

Q: Support DREAM Act (DACA), allowing "Dreamers" who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, to achieve legal status if meet certain conditions?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Worked to protect their status. Supports earned path to citizenship, for DACA recipients and illegal immigrants in general.

Steve Pearce (R): Yes. On DACA, proposed 10-year "conditional protected status" with option to renew but no path to citizenship. Supports guest worker program, without amnesty.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Jeff Apodaca: We're not deporting DACA kids or any other kids

Asked about immigration policy and the border wall being pursued by the Trump administration, Lujan Grisham cited her recent advocacy in Washington, both fighting against funding of the wall and advocating for Dreamers--young immigrants who entered the country illegally as children and gained temporary protection from deportation under an Obama administration policy known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.

Both Cervantes and Apodaca spoke of the possibility of trade with New Mexico's southern neighbor, Cervantes calling the border with Mexico one of the state's greatest assets.

"There's no way we're going to deport or get rid of DACA kids or any other kids," Apodaca said.

Source: Santa Fe New Mexican on 2018 New Mexico governor debate Jan 23, 2018

Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Fight funding the border wall; advocate for DREAMers

Asked about immigration policy and the border wall being pursued by the Trump administration, Lujan Grisham cited her recent advocacy in Washington, both fighting against funding of the wall and advocating for Dreamers--young immigrants who entered the country illegally as children and gained temporary protection from deportation under an Obama administration policy known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.
Source: Santa Fe New Mexican on 2018 New Mexico governor debate Jan 23, 2018

Steve Pearce: Need secure border, but human solutions

The violence, drug and weapons smuggling, and human trafficking that plagues our border must be put to a stop. I am working to advocate human solutions that reflect the sensitivity of border security issues. This is a complex issue, and all related groups must be engaged in the process of developing a strong policy for border security. It is time that the federal government gives New Mexico the resources and solutions we need for a strong, secure border.
Source: 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial website pearce.house.gov Aug 22, 2017

Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Prohibit local law enforcement from enforcing federal law

Lujan Grisham took note of HB116 to prohibit local law-enforcement agencies from enforcing federal immigration law--contrasting it with President Trump's plans to build a border wall and cut funding to sanctuary cities. Lujan Grisham said she was "very concerned about both the rhetoric and the actions" of Trump. The federal government, she said, has a tradition of adopting bipartisan immigration legislation--something she'd like to see continue. House Bill 116 has been referred to Committee.
Source: Albuquerque Journal on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race Jan 26, 2017

  • The above quotations are from 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Immigration.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Susana Martinez on Immigration.
  • Click here for more quotes by Michelle Lujan Grisham on Immigration.
Candidates and political leaders on Immigration:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Mar 08, 2019