On Thursday, a New York jury, stacked with foes of 45th President Trump, found him guilty on all 34 counts in an unfair trial relating to so-called “hush money payments.” The verdict came after the prosecution brought forward witnesses, such as convicted felon and liar Michael Cohen and porn actress Stormy Daniels, who impeached themselves on the witness stand with contradictory testimony. Cohen even admitted to stealing tens of thousands of dollars from Trump.
Following the verdict, New Mexico conservatives responded with fury.
Republican Former Congresswoman Yvette Herrell of the Second District wrote, “This case was election interference through and through, designed from the start to take President Trump off the campaign trail and damage his prospects in November. But I’m confident Americans will see through this weaponization of our legal system and vote to get our country back on track by electing Donald Trump.”
This case was election interference through and through, designed from the start to take President Trump off the campaign trail and damage his prospects in November. But I’m confident Americans will see through this weaponization of our legal system and vote to get our country…
GOP U.S. Senate nominee Nella Domenici wrote, “It is a sad day in our country when Americans see our justice system weaponized. Thankfully there is an appeals process that can correct miscarriages of justice. We stand at an unprecedented time, with our country growing more and more divided each day. This must end. We must come together. We must have leaders who restore trust in our institutions, trust in the rule of law, and trust in one another.”
It is a sad day in our country when Americans see our justice system weaponized. Thankfully there is an appeals process that can correct miscarriages of justice. We stand at an unprecedented time, with our country growing more and more divided each day. This must end.
State Rep. John Block (R-Alamogordo) wrote, “This sham verdict just won President Trump this election. The Dems dug their own grave, and it will forever be remembered in American history,” adding, “The Founding Fathers are rolling around in their graves.”
This sham verdict just won President Trump this election. The Dems dug their own grave and it will forever be remembered in American history. pic.twitter.com/s4XtqYxKzx
“Through a leftist prosecutor and judge with a political vendetta, the Biden administration and Democrats have dangerously weaponized the judiciary against their biggest political opponent to detract from the mess [Joe] Biden has made of our country,” wrote New Mexico Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce in a statement.
President Trump has made it clear he will appeal the ruling. The Democrat judge in the case has scheduled sentencing for mid-July, just days before the RNC Convention, where Trump is set to accept the GOP nomination.
In typical fashion, anti-America First liberal “Republicans” are trying to seize onto a resource they have previously failed to get to help them across the finish line in GOP primaries: Democrats.
In New Mexico’s conservative Otero County, Democrats are trying to stop a conservative America First Republican from becoming the County’s next treasurer by betting big on their own “Republican” candidate, Rachel Black.
Conservative former Alamogordo City Commissioner Karl Melton is running for the open seat to oversee the County’s tax dollars and wisely invest them for the biggest benefit of the county. Previously endorsed by Republican former Congresswoman Yvette Herrell, Melton has the endorsements of state Reps. John Block (R-Alamogordo) and Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park) who were the two representatives who led the impeachment effort against Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for her unconstitutional actions. Lord previously shared a legislative office with Black and endorsed Melton over her former colleague.
Melton has over a dozen years of experience in finance, accounting, compliance, and fundraising, working for groups such as the Heritage Foundation, the Club for Growth, and the Leadership Institute. He has worked managing funds for President Trump’s largest independent ally organizations and leading trade associations, where he managed millions of dollars. He has a Master’s in Public Administration from Liberty University and is finishing a Master of Finance from the same institution. In contrast, his opponent, Rachel Black, has not completed any formal degree relevant to finance or accounting.
Black, who is the current deputy treasurer and who was ousted in 2022 by Block in the Republican primary after Black voted for Gov. Lujan Grisham’s multi-billion-dollar budget that wasted taxpayer dollars on Critical Race Theory, socialist “free” college programs and an anti-gun “office of gun violence prevention” to infringe upon New Mexicans’ Second Amendment rights. In 2022, Black’s campaign, which now funds her current run for treasurer, was backed by pro-abortion legislators who voted for abortion up-to-birth and other Democrats, who threw thousands at her failed attempt to cling to power.
That, among other bad votes, such as being the lone vote against tax relief for hurting small businesses during Lujan Grisham’s brutal pandemic lockdown, helped in Black’s defeat. She has promised to give her best friend, the current treasurer Laura Whiteside, the job of deputy treasurer, which she currently holds, an evasion of term limits and a way for both of them to pack more years onto their county pensions for the rest of their lives at the expense of the taxpayers.
She said at a local meeting, “My chief deputy would be Laura, so nothing will change as far as anyone new coming into the office.”
Since working at the Otero County Treasurer’s Office under her best friend, Laura Whiteside, Black has advocated for pay raises for elected officials, saying in 2018 that she “believes it is time for Otero County elected officials to get a raise in their salary,” as reported by the Alamogordo Daily News.
“Do I believe it’s time? Yes. Do I believe it has to go to vote? No. I believe it’s up to you commissioners to make that decision,” she said, noting how the people should not have a say in whether politicians like her should get a pay raise.
Melton, in contrast, has noted he is not running for the salary or pension. In fact, if elected, he would actually take a pay cut to serve the people of the County. He also has pledged to have an interview process to find the most qualified deputy, not just hire his buddy like Black will do.
Taxpayers can expect more of the same from Black if elected, as she said in a recent interview, “I don’t know that a lot would really change, to be honest with you.”
Currently, the investments made by the current treasurer’s office are garnering a net 2.8 percent annual return, with many funds held in extremely low-interest certificates of deposit (CDs) that mature 4-5 years from now.
In comparison, the inflation rate for 2023 was 3.4 percent, so with the current investment structure in the Otero County Treasurer’s Office, the County is losing money yearly, factoring in inflation. Other New Mexico counties’ investment portfolios are making nearly double, with some at upwards of 4.14 percent.
The latest inflation rate for March was “3.1% for the CPI-U and 3.5% for Core CPI-U,” as estimated by Wells Fargo.
Black has also alienated conservative elected officials by believing she, as deputy treasurer, does not need to attend County Commission meetings and coordinate with other conservative elected officials to work toward the betterment of the community, as the current treasurer’s office has been siloed off from the rest of the county administration.
Democrats are now openly supporting Black, with fringe pro-abortion up-to-birth Democrat Ashlie Myers (who is attempting to oust Block) writing, “gotta get the vote out for Rachel, then. I’m sure she needs volunteers to help get that done.” Myers’ campaign treasurer, Alexis Romo, who runs a faceless, nameless X account attacking both Block and Melton, agreed with Myers, making comments supportive of Black.
In 2022, Melton sponsored the successful resolution declaring Alamogordo a sanctuary city for unborn babies. Once the pro-life measure passed, Myers attempted to force the resolution onto the ballot for a vote by getting enough signatures through a petition process, calling the resolution “extremist.” Not only did Myers fail to get enough signatures, but she also failed to go through the proper protocols to get the petition itself approved before dissemination. Since then, she has had a vendetta against Melton for supporting the sanctity of life in the pro-life city of Alamogordo.
Local far-left Democrat Edward Chavez wrote regarding Melton’s candidacy for treasurer, “So I would think a few democrats and independents should definitely switch their registration to republican to keep Karl out of the treasury office (sic).”
Far-leftist convicted felon and Planned Parenthood supporter Chris Edwards, who has had an unnatural obsession, akin to stalking, with Melton and Block for years now by posting incoherent screeds about them on a blog, agreed with Chavez, hoping “500 would change outcomes with a cushion to spare” in the attempt to keep the true conservative candidate out of the treasurer’s role.
Another leftist going by “Lisa Gman” on Facebook wrote in response to Democrat Myers’ glowing endorsement of Black, “I’m registered as a republican (sic) and I encourage other independents to register under another party. I will not vote for [Melton],” noting how she will be supporting Black.
Democrat former state House candidate Steve Brockett, who is a friend of Joe Biden, endorsed Black’s campaign and donated money to her, which she gladly accepted, even bragging about his support on social media. On May 21, Brockett gave another $1,000 to Black’s campaign.
Rachel Black unsuccessfully attempted to downplay Brockett’s leftism, claiming photos of him with Joe Biden are just because he formerly worked with Biden for funding following the 2006 flood. However, Brockett posted the photo with Biden in January 2021, when Biden was inaugurated, and has many other pictures promoting far-left Democrats, including Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, as you can see by scrolling below:
Other Democrats, including failed former judicial candidate Claudia Powell and failed former state representative candidate Denise Lange-Brown, also back Rachel Black.
Far-left anti-gun activist Diana Cox, a Democrat Party of New Mexico official and vicious anti-Trumper, gave a glowing endorsement of Black.
Currently, there is no official Democrat Party in Otero County after it was disbanded following a scourge of infighting between factions, leaving it in pieces. Since then, Democrats have independently threatened to infiltrate the 2024 Republican primary for Otero County treasurer.
If history is any indicator of Democrats’ successes with this tactic in 2022 with Liz Cheney and locally with their failed pro-abortion petition drive, it is unclear if they will convince enough Democrats to switch parties to vote for the leftist candidate.
While Melton is running on a conservative platform of transparency for the county, wise investment of funds for the maximum return, and a promise to hire the most qualified candidate for deputy treasurer, the establishment candidate is getting support from Democrats looking to influence the Republican primary.
To learn more about Karl Melton, click here, and to donate to his campaign, click here.
Recent data from the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicates a dramatic increase in the number of noncitizens failing to appear for their immigration court hearings. This trend is on track to surpass 170,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2024, eclipsing last year’s record of nearly 160,000. Andrew R. Arthur of the Center for Immigration Studies highlights that many of these individuals may be subject to removal orders, yet the Biden administration shows little intention of enforcing these actions.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), immigration judges (IJs) oversee removal proceedings, determine noncitizens’ removability, and issue removal orders. These proceedings depend on respondents attending their hearings. However, despite the requirement that noncitizens appear in court or face removal in absentia, enforcement by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has significantly waned.
The impact of these no-shows is particularly pronounced in New Mexico. The state has seen a marked increase in absentia orders of removal, mirroring the national trend. From October to December 2023 alone, immigration judges issued 42,714 absentia orders nationwide, suggesting a potential total of around 170,000 by the end of the fiscal year. This represents a staggering increase compared to previous years, with 25,909 such orders in FY 2014 and 38,260 in FY 2015.
Arthur attributes the surge in no-shows to a broader decline in DHS removals. DHS’s Office of Homeland Security Statistics (OHSS) reported just over 179,400 removals in FY 2023 despite encountering more than 3.2 million noncitizens at borders and ports. This number pales in comparison to removals during the Obama administration, which peaked at nearly 405,000 in FY 2014 and exceeded 347,000 in FY 2019.
One major factor in the decline is the policy direction DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas set. In a September 2021 memo, Mayorkas outlined a more selective approach to enforcement, focusing on national security threats, serious criminals, and recent border crossers. This has led to fewer enforcement actions against noncitizens ordered removed in absentia, even though these individuals received due process.
Arthur suggests that the administration’s overall stance has signaled to noncitizens that immigration law enforcement is lax. From the early 2021 announcement pausing alien removals for 100 days to the current non-detention policies, the message appears to be one of minimal enforcement.
In New Mexico and beyond, this approach has created a situation where many noncitizens feel emboldened to disregard court orders without fear of repercussions. “If the White House doesn’t care, why would the aliens?” Arthur posits, reflecting on the broader implications of the administration’s policies.
As a result, the immigration enforcement process has been likened to “kabuki theater” — a performance with little substance. Despite the significant resources allocated for enforcement, the actual follow-through remains inadequate, leaving taxpayers footing the bill for a system that fails to deliver on its intended promises.
Nella Domenici, the New Mexico GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate, has unveiled her first TV ad for the 2024 campaign, titled “Monroe.” The ad is named after the street in Albuquerque, where Nella and her seven siblings grew up, evoking a sense of nostalgia and highlighting the Domenici family’s longstanding legacy of service in New Mexico.
The ad pays homage to Nella’s parents, Pete and Nancy Domenici, both lifelong Albuquerque residents. Her father, Senator Pete Domenici, served New Mexico for thirty-six years in the U.S. Senate, significantly impacting communities throughout the state. Nella’s mother has been a prominent advocate for mental health. The Domenici family, including numerous siblings, aunts, cousins, nieces, and nephews, remains deeply rooted in the Albuquerque area.
Highlighting Nella’s professional achievements, the ad showcases her rise to the top in the finance industry while balancing the roles of wife and mother. Her philanthropic contributions in New Mexico have been so extensive that those familiar with her work often remark that “Nella had a second career in New Mexico philanthropy.”
In a statement accompanying the ad, Nella Domenici expressed her commitment to continuing her family’s legacy and encouraging New Mexicans to seek more from their representatives in November:
“I’m proud to continue the Domenici legacy of delivering more for New Mexico. I learned the value of leadership from my parents in Albuquerque. I began my career at the bottom of the career chain and worked my way up, so I know how to fight and win. Now, I want to fight and win for our home.”
The ad, part of an initial six-figure campaign investment, narrates the story of Nella’s upbringing in New Mexico and the enduring Domenici legacy of service and leadership. The voiceover in the video is a tribute to her father, using the same narrator from Senator Domenici’s campaign advertisements. This connection reinforces the deep-rooted dedication of the Domenici family to serving New Mexico.
As Nella Domenici challenges far-left Democrat Sen. Martin Heinrich, she aims to resonate with voters across New Mexico by drawing on her family’s history and her own professional and philanthropic experience. The ad shows a stark contrast to Heinrich, who lives in Maryland.
Triggered by the ad buy and attempting to defend its Silver Spring, Maryland-dwelling Heinrich, the Democrat Party of New Mexico quipped on X, “Multimillionaire former hedge fund executive Nella Domenici is spending half a million dollars to cover up a career of bad judgment calls and questionable values that belong on Wall Street, not in New Mexico.” It is interesting they used this line of attack, blasting Domenici for being a successful businesswoman despite their own incumbent’s choice of dwelling outside of the state he purportedly represents.
In a strategic move to maintain its majority in the House, the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), a super PAC endorsed by Speaker Johnson and House Republican Leadership, has announced its first wave of fall ad reservations for the 2024 election cycle. The initial reservations amount to $141 million, covering television, streaming, and digital platforms across 37 media markets. This figure surpasses the spending from previous election cycles, with nearly $20 million more than in 2022 and over three times the amount spent in 2020.
Dan Conston, President of the CLF, emphasized the significance of this early investment, stating, “This is a significant early down payment on Republicans holding the House Majority. The map is undoubtedly small, and we are in a dogfight. Yet we are in a stronger position than the mainstream narrative suggests, with a promising political environment and standout Members and candidates in the toughest races. Effective campaigns and resources will really matter.”
A notable aspect of this announcement is the substantial ad spending in New Mexico’s Second Congressional District, where a highly anticipated rematch between GOP former Rep. Yvette Herrell and Democrat Rep. Gabe Vasquez is set to take place. The CLF has allocated $2.3 million in Albuquerque, which includes $345,000 for Spanish-language media, underscoring the importance of reaching diverse voter demographics in this district.
The Herrell-Vasquez race is expected to be one of the most fiercely contested battles in the 2024 cycle. Herrell, who narrowly lost her seat to Vasquez in the 2022 election, is looking to reclaim her position. Conversely, Vasquez aims to solidify his hold on the district amidst a challenging political landscape.
The CLF’s significant investment in Albuquerque reflects the critical nature of New Mexico’s Second Congressional District for both parties. This funding will be pivotal in financing extensive television, streaming, and digital advertisements designed to sway voters and bolster Herrell’s campaign efforts. The $694,000 reservation in the El Paso market may also partly be used to support Herrell.
In addition to New Mexico, the CLF has made substantial reservations in other key markets. These include $20.7 million in New York City, $18.2 million in Los Angeles, and $6.5 million in Fresno-Visalia, among others. Each market allocation is strategically designed to maximize Republican influence and voter reach ahead of the 2024 elections.
In response to news of the ad buy, Vasquez wrote in a panicky email to supporters, “The Congressional Leadership Fund — a dark money group supported by MAGA Speaker Mike Johnson — wants to intimidate Team Vasquez into giving up. But, let’s be honest, this just shows that MAGA Republicans are the ones running scared.”
However, CLF is not a “dark money group” since it discloses its donors and supporters to the Federal Election Commission, unlike true dark money groups, such as Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and the League of Conservation Voters, which donate from their leftist dark money nonprofits to PACs. These groups are backing Vasquez’s run with true “dark money.”
Conston’s statement highlights the Republican strategy of leveraging resources effectively to maintain their majority. The emphasis on a “promising political environment” and “standout Members and candidates” indicates a calculated approach to overcoming the competitive challenges presented by the upcoming election cycle.
Recent reports reveal that the celebrated “all-electric” or “zero emissions” fire trucks, being lauded from San Diego to Portland to Albuquerque, are not as environmentally friendly as advertised. Each of these new fire trucks, purchased with the assistance of federal funding, is equipped with a diesel engine to ensure functionality when the electric battery is depleted.
This revelation highlights a significant discrepancy between the marketed image of these trucks and their actual operational design.
The report indicates that each of these supposedly zero-emission trucks includes a diesel engine to guarantee that it can still pump water or drive if the electric battery runs out. Furthermore, the cost of these hybrid trucks is significantly higher than their all-diesel counterparts, with a price tag that is 40 to 50 percent more.
“This would be laughable if so much money wasn’t being wasted on such a big lie,” stated Daniel Turner, Founder and Executive Director of Power The Future. Turner expressed his frustration, emphasizing that politicians celebrating these trucks as “all-electric” are either misleading the public or are unaware of the trucks’ true nature. “Over-spending tax dollars on a product and then misleading voters is nothing less than pure fraud,” he added.
One notable example highlighted in the report is the purchase of an “all-electric” fire truck for $1.8 million, of which $400,000 was funded by a federal grant. Despite the truck being touted as a “zero emission” vehicle by Democrat New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the inclusion of a diesel engine undermines this claim.
The discrepancy between the public portrayal and the reality of these fire trucks raises concerns about the transparency and efficacy of using taxpayer money for such projects. Critics argue that the funds could be better spent on genuinely green technologies rather than on vehicles that still rely on fossil fuels for critical functions.
As cities across the nation strive to meet “environmental” goals and reduce carbon footprints, the debate over the true benefits and costs of these hybrid fire trucks is likely to continue. Turner and others at Power The Future call for greater accountability and honesty from public officials regarding the capabilities and limitations of such high-cost investments.
As the June 4 primary election approaches, some Bernalillo County voters have already begun submitting absentee ballots. However, a few voters were surprised to receive a second ballot in the mail.
According to Bernalillo County Clerk Linda Stover, this mistake does not mean that any votes will be counted twice, per KRQE 13. “The vendor now has made plans to not have that happen, we’re looking at it again,” Stover assured.
As of Monday, the clerk’s office had distributed nearly 16,000 absentee ballots to county residents. Of these, 452 voters received duplicate ballots. “On the 8th, we mailed out ballots,” Stover explained. “On the 9th, we mailed out ballots. Our vendor accidentally, on the 9th, picked up some of the ballots from the 8th.”
Stover mentioned that her team discovered the issue a day after the ballots were delivered. They noticed a discrepancy in the ballot count, which led them to realize that some ballots had been sent out twice. “We noticed a difference in the numbers,” Stover said.
Of the 452 duplicate ballots, 320 were sent to Democrat primary voters, and 132 were sent to Republicans. The county clerk’s office sent out a notification letter to those affected, explaining the error and providing instructions on what to do if they received a duplicate.
“Everybody that we had contact information on, like an email or a telephone number, we tried to contact,” Stover said. “We sent everybody a letter telling them what had happened and asked them to only vote the one ballot and to destroy the other.”
Stover clarified what happens if a voter returns both ballots. Each person has a voter ID and barcode linked to their ballot, ensuring that only one vote per person is counted. Any duplicate ballots that are submitted will be discarded.
“You can go to Berncoclerk.gov and look up your voter file, and you’ll see if your vote has been checked and done,” Stover added. “It’s very easy to do that.”
Stover emphasized that this is the first time such an incident has occurred during her tenure as county clerk. She encouraged anyone with questions about duplicate ballots to contact her office.
Editor’s note: a previous version of this article incorrectly indicated the abortion center would be $10 billion, not $10 million.
A new abortion facility received the green light from the University of New Mexico’s Board of Regents on Wednesday to proceed with its building plans. The organization behind the facility can now purchase land for its construction.
Last year, the Legislature approved $10 million for an abortion center in Doña Ana County after pro-abortion Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham forced the funds through in the capital outlay bill — resulting in Republicans and even some Democrats voting against the measure because of her proposed $10 million state-run abortion mill.
Since then, UNM, Planned Parenthood, and fringe dark money groups Bold Futures New Mexico and Strong Families New Mexico have collaborated and engaged other pro-abortion community groups to develop a plan for the center.
Heather Smith of Bold Futures stated, “Our communities have been lacking [abortion] services for decades,” she informed the UNM Board of Regents.
“Source New Mexico” writes that as well as abortions, the state-funded center will offer so-called “gender affirming care.”
The acquisition of land, located at the Lohman Medical Park campus in Las Cruces, was approved by a 6 to 1 vote. UNM Medical Group will manage the 8,000-square-foot facility.
The contract price for the land is $1,030,630, which will be funded from the state appropriation for the project.
Charlene Bencomo, the executive director of Bold Futures, said the steps taken by the university’s board of regents give the green light to finalize the land deal and begin designing and staffing the facility. The facility is set to be Texas’ back-alley abortion facility for Texas mothers to utilize abortion tourism to visit New Mexico and end their child’s life at the state-funded center.
They also plan to collaborate with UNM to start a training program and work with the New Mexico Doula Association to integrate doula care into the center.
In a defiant op-ed published in the Albuquerque Journal, Democrat State Representative Marian Matthews from New Mexico openly criticized this year’s Senate Bill 3 (SB 3), the failed Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) bill, marking her firm opposition to what she described as a flawed proposal championed by the far-left progressives within her party. Matthews, who represents District 27, highlighted her commitment to protecting vulnerable populations, a commitment that led her to vote against the bill not once but twice.
Matthews invoked the words of Hubert Humphrey to underline her point, stating, “The moral test of government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those who are in the shadows of life – the sick, the needy, and the handicapped.” She argued that the New Mexico Legislature frequently fails this moral test, and passing SB 3 would continue that trend by potentially reducing or eliminating services for those most in need.
The crux of Matthews’ argument revolves around the economic strains placed on caregivers, who are legally bound to pay the state minimum wage and provide mandated state benefits. She noted that, unlike other businesses, caregivers cannot simply raise prices to cover increased costs due to slow adjustments in state contracts. This leads to reductions in workforce and services, exacerbating the plight of about 70,000 of New Mexico’s “most vulnerable” citizens.
State Rep. Marian Matthews (D-Albuquerque)
Matthews criticized the formation of the task force designed to develop the PFML, pointing out its lack of representation from caregivers, healthcare providers, and rural areas. She highlighted the unsustainable nature of the bill, questioning its long-term viability and the capability of the state agency assigned to administer it.
Reflecting on her own legislative efforts, Matthews mentioned her support for a more inclusive and sustainable PFML bill that she introduced in 2024. However, she encountered resistance from fellow legislators who believed exempting caregivers from payroll taxes funding the program would lead to its insolvency. “PFML would be paid for on the backs of the most vulnerable,” she lamented.
Matthews also shared personal anecdotes from her career, including threats from a powerful unnamed senator aimed at stifling her opposition to the PFML bill and other legislative efforts. Despite the political pressure and personal attacks, Matthews remains committed to advocating for the most vulnerable populations, stating, “Whether or not I win the election, I do not regret my votes. I don’t apologize for advocating for the most vulnerable New Mexicans.”
The representative concluded her piece with a call to action for more rigorous debate within her party, reminiscent of the Democrat Party’s former historical “Big Tent” approach. However, the Democrat Party of John F. Kennedy appears not only to be on life support, but deceased.
She expressed hope for a revival of vigorous, contentious debates to achieve better policy outcomes, boldly stating, “I’m up for a raucous debate if the Woke ever wake up!”
The University of New Mexico released an official statement on May 14 responding to recent protest demands related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The university responded to calls for a ceasefire and demands for so-called “transparency” regarding its investment activities, specifically concerning ties to Israel.
UNM President Garnett Stokes clarified the university’s stance, emphasizing that as a public institution, UNM will not engage as a political entity in social or geopolitical debates. The statement highlighted the university’s intention to remain neutral on such issues.
Furthermore, the university has made a firm commitment to complete transparency, pledging to disclose its investment portfolio in its entirety by August 2024.
This response directly addresses the demand for transparency from the university divestment coalition, a group of student leaders.
The statement also acknowledges and addresses issues at the Duck Pond protest encampment, noting several policy violations, including restricted public access, disruption of university operations, safety concerns due to unsafe structures, and vandalism.
President Stokes has requested the voluntary dismantling of the Duck Pond encampment by 5 p.m. on the same day the statement was issued, warning that the university is prepared to take further actions if necessary. The involved parties have been duly notified about this directive.
