Urgent: Just and Fair Immigration Policies for All
I live in New Mexico, a state of cultural fusion and a shared heritage. As a territory, we’ve shared our southern border with Mexico since 1848; and, as a state, since 1912. Those who live outside our borders (including those who live in the other 49 states) sometimes mistake us for not being part of the U.S., an identity problem that mystifies yet also amuses us. The cultural groups contributing to our diversity and evolving community are Native American, Hispanic, Anglo, Black, and Asian. We’ve lived together for more than 200 years, becoming co-workers, neighbors, friends, and, often, family.
The region, within which Mexico and New Mexico now share a border, has been open to explorers, traders, and colonizers for at least a half-millennium. This area and beyond have seen their share of violence, cruelty, and shifting allegiances, leading to an uneasy coexistence among indigenous people and interlopers seeking land and resources. Through the years and the weaving of lives, however, many of us have come to experience and appreciate the richness and benefits of diversity within our communities. New Mexico, as have the other states sharing a border with Mexico, finds that intertwined histories and interests encourage a natural and reciprocal flow of commerce, culture, and people. We share this land as well as the evolving community values that shape and influence us.
The U.S. has a long, albeit uneven, history of establishing itself as a refuge for those escaping persecution and warfare. Many undocumented asylum seekers and refugees leave unstable, violent situations in Central or South America to travel through Mexico where they cross the border into the southern U.S. They come here because they perceive the U.S. as a beacon of safety and peace; they live here protected by the Constitution. The two Constitutional Amendments protecting all immigrants are:
The Fifth Amendment (federal government) - “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law;” and
The Fourteenth Amendment (state governments) - extends the Due Process Clause and provides the Equal Protection Clause. Combined, these clauses describe the obligation of state governments to provide equal protection under law to all persons, regardless of immigration status.
On March 15, 2025, however, the image of a welcoming U.S. was shattered when the current administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. This Act, established for use only during wartime, eliminates the need for due process and allows the president to detain or deport citizens of enemy nations. Although our country is not at war, the current administration uses this Act to justify deportations of residents, refugees, and asylum seekers without due process. This Act has been used to rid America of those whose ethnic or cultural origins are an anathema to this country’s emerging political ideology - one that embraces Christian nationalism and racism. It signals the institutionalization of hate and is meant to terrorize and disrupt states like mine where large immigrant communities reside.
For over 100 years, the permeability of our southern border has been a hot topic for U.S. politicians. Since the late 1990s, increasing security concerns (especially after 9/11) and undocumented immigration have supported political discussions about a “border crisis” and solutions to this problem. Before 2016, discussions about immigration often included the words “humane,” “fair,” and “just” as well as references to Constitutional rights. After 2016, however, the current administration ensured that the “solutions” rhetoric dehumanized and criminalized undocumented immigrants (though violation of immigration law is largely a civil, not a criminal matter).
Beginning this year, the current administration has empowered masked ICE agents without warrants to use brutality when arresting parents, children, and unarmed individuals; “disappear” them so that their whereabouts are unknown; imprison them without trial in detention camps; and deport them to third countries that have agreed to accept them for a price or in response to diplomatic pressure. The current administration is also attempting to eliminate birthright citizenship through Executive Order 14160.
While the world watches the U.S. abdicate its moral authority, Amnesty International has condemned the U.S. for actions and policies that undermine human rights. Last February, Amnesty International declared, “the right to seek asylum in the United States is non-existent at the U.S.-Mexico border, in violation of U.S. human rights national and international obligations.” As an American and a New Mexican, I’m outraged by our country’s violations of immigrants’ Constitutional protections and use of paramilitary tactics against unarmed civilians.
There is a groundswell of voices protesting the immigration policies and actions of the current administration. As of this month, three polls (Gallup, Reuters, NPR-PBS) report that a majority of Americans disapprove of the current administration’s overall approach to immigration. This administration does not represent the will of the people. Many are horrified by the reports of deaths and serious injuries suffered by those taken into ICE custody, by the illegal arrests of friends and family, by attempts to criminalize undocumented immigrants in order to manipulate public perception and impose criminal punishments.
I, too, am appalled by the current administration’s violations of our civil rights and began looking to affiliate with others intent on the restoration of our Constitutional protections. My research led me to Project 2029, and I support its plans (1) to reverse the damage created by destructive immigration policies and (2) for immigration reforms. These immigration plans are detailed in the document, “10 Steps to Immediately Reform U.S. Immigration Policy in 2029.” As individuals, we can increase our power in developing immigration policy by partnering with Project 2029, a grassroots organization committed to creating a society in which everyone has equal opportunity in shaping their future. This is my hope and aspiration for our country.
Amnesty International. “The Right to seek asylum does not exist at US-Mexico Border.” Amnesty International. 20 Feb 2025. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/02/the-right-to-seek-asylum-does-not-exist-at-u-s-mexico-border/. Retrieved July 15, 2025.