New Mexico

Lujan Grisham forces education secretary — her fourth — out of role

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Just weeks into the new school year, Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is already searching for a new leader for the Public Education Department following the sudden resignation of Arsenio Romero, her fourth secretary since she came into office.

Romero, New Mexico’s top public education official, unexpectedly stepped down on Wednesday. This move comes shortly after he was announced as a finalist for the presidency at New Mexico State University (NMSU) less than two weeks ago.

The governor’s office confirmed that Lujan Grisham had asked Romero to make a choice between continuing in his current role or pursuing the NMSU position. “Gov. Lujan Grisham gave Secretary Romero a choice to either resign and continue pursuing the NMSU position or stay on the job and withdraw his candidacy at NMSU,” stated Michael Coleman, the governor’s spokesman.

CBS

Coleman emphasized the importance of the role, noting, “The secretary of public education is critically important in New Mexico, and the governor believes it’s imperative that the person serving in this role be fully committed to the job.”

Romero, who was appointed to lead the Public Education Department in February 2023, was the fourth person to hold this position in just over four years under Lujan Grisham’s administration. During his Senate confirmation hearing in March 2023, Romero expressed his commitment to the role, stating that New Mexico was “going to be stuck with me for a long time” and promising to bring about significant positive changes.

During his tenure, Romero spearheaded a new rule mandating that New Mexico public schools spend at least 180 days in session with students each school year. However, this rule faced opposition, with a coalition of school districts and superintendents filing a lawsuit that delayed its implementation.

Earlier this month, Romero was unexpectedly named one of five finalists for the NMSU presidency, a development that reportedly took the governor by surprise.

In a brief statement following Romero’s resignation, Lujan Grisham expressed her gratitude, saying, “I appreciate Secretary Romero’s service to the New Mexico Public Education Department and the children of our state. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

The Governor’s Office has announced that the search for a new Public Education Department leader will begin immediately, with Lujan Grisham and her top aides conducting interviews for the position.

In a social media post after his resignation, Romero alluded to the challenges of his role, stating, “This is hard work and not everyone is willing to step up to the plate, take risks and sometimes make others mad.” He added, “I am proud of my years as a public school servant. My next adventure awaits.”

Earlier in the day, Romero was seen attending the state of the district speech by new Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Gabriella Durán Blakey, where he was spotted conversing with local legislators. His resignation took effect immediately.

Lujan Grisham forces education secretary — her fourth — out of role Read More »

Texas Gov. Abbott’s plan to close the illegal immigration loophole through NM

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has made curbing illegal immigration a top priority, and his efforts go beyond focusing solely on the southern border with Mexico. He is now turning his attention to preventing individuals who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border from entering Texas through neighboring states, specifically New Mexico.

In an interview with NewsNation, Abbott highlighted a key concern: “There are people who cross from Mexico into New Mexico and then right over into El Paso, and that’s something we have to deal with.” To address this issue, Abbott has proposed constructing a fence along the Texas-New Mexico border, in addition to the razor wire and other barriers Texas has already installed along the Mexican border in places like Eagle Pass. These measures are part of his broader initiative, Operation Lone Star, aimed at tightening border security. However, Abbott’s border strategy has faced legal opposition, with the Biden administration arguing that Abbott is exceeding his legal authority.

Despite these legal challenges, Abbott remains steadfast in his goal of stopping illegal immigration. “Let’s assume Texas does succeed in reducing illegal immigration to zero percent into our state, which is our goal,” Abbott stated. “All those terrorists, all those murderers, all those rapists, they’re just going to go through New Mexico and Arizona and California.” Abbott’s stance underscores his belief that illegal immigration is a nationwide problem that cannot be solved by state efforts alone.

In terms of illegal immigration numbers, New Mexico faces its own unique challenges. According to data from the Department of Homeland Security, New Mexico has seen a significant number of border crossings in recent years, although the state’s overall border traffic is much lower than Texas or Arizona. 

Data from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) show that apprehensions in New Mexico fluctuate but remain a consistent concern for border officials. In fiscal year 2021, CBP reported over 200,000 migrant encounters in the El Paso sector, which includes southern New Mexico. 

Abbott has also pointed to an 85% decrease in border crossings as evidence of the effectiveness of his border security measures. However, he argues that this decline started before Joe Biden’s late actions aimed at deterring illegal immigration. “That was after Texas began our accelerated operations to deny illegal entry, using the guard, using the razor wire, using the pepper ball,” Abbott said, attributing the initial decrease to Texas’s enforcement efforts.

Ultimately, Abbott believes that the solution to the border crisis lies at the federal level, arguing that immigration reform can only be fully addressed by Congress, which refuses to act on H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support. Democrats, who control the Senate, have refused to let it come before the chamber for a vote.

As illegal immigration continues to bludgeon Democrats, Kamala Harris has now come out in favor of the border wall along the southern border after previously claiming it is a waste of money. Far-left New Mexico Congressman Gabe Vasquez, a close ally of Harris and in a difficult reelection battle to keep his seat, which stretches across New Mexico’s entire southern border with Mexico, has attempted to come off strong on the border in recent months. However, he has previously called the border barrier “racist,” racist,” urged the Biden-Harris administration to “tear what’s left of it down,” and called it a “vanity project.”

“Gabe Vasquez and many of his fellow progressives just had the rug pulled out from under them by Kamala Harris after her abrupt flip-flop on the border. As a politician unable to think for himself, it won’t be surprising if he, too tries to change his anti-border security position. Even if he tries, Vasquez won’t be able to hide his lengthy pro-illegal immigration record from voters,” said the Congressional Leadership Fund’s Regional Press Secretary Maureen O’Toole.   

Sen. Martin Heinrich is also taking the heat for his open-borders stance, being extremely critical of the border wall, calling it a “symbol of hatred, fear, and intolerance.” He is polling within single digits of Republican U.S. Senate nominee Nella Domenici. 

New Mexico’s Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a far-left Democrat, and Vasquez ally, remains the only border state governor who has done nothing to curb the flow of human trafficking and fentanyl from across the border. Even Democrat Govs. Katie Hobbs of Arizona and Gavin Newsom of California have put state resources to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis on the border. 

Lujan Grisham hates walls so much that she even ran through a wall in a political ad during her gubernatorial run, labeling a strong border as “Trump’s wall.”

Texas Gov. Abbott’s plan to close the illegal immigration loophole through NM Read More »

NM high court cites technicality to free murderer of 71-year-old disabled man

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The New Mexico Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of Seig Isaac Chavez, a Las Vegas man who had been sentenced for the brutal 2019 murder of 71-year-old William Smith, a disabled elderly man. Chavez was originally found guilty of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence by a jury in 2022. Smith’s body was discovered in August 2019, bearing 24 stab wounds. Chavez’s conviction was overturned due to the improper admission of key evidence during his trial.

According to court records, a witness saw Smith getting into Chavez’s truck on the night of the murder, and investigators later found Smith’s blood inside Chavez’s vehicle as well as on his jacket. This evidence was used to build the prosecution’s case against Chavez, tying him directly to the crime.

During the trial, prosecutors introduced a jailhouse phone call between Chavez and his teenage son. This call, however, became the center of the New Mexico Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the conviction. The court found that the audio recording of the conversation should not have been admitted as evidence. In its opinion, the court noted that the call “significantly affected the verdicts.”

In the phone call, Chavez instructed his son that he was now the “man of the house” and had the responsibility to protect the family. He gave disturbing instructions, telling his son to stab anyone who got close to him or attempted to harm him, particularly instructing him to aim for the throat. Chavez also expressed his own belief that he would soon be imprisoned, saying, “Daddy’s going to prison,” as outlined in the Supreme Court’s decision.

The key issue, as the court pointed out, was that the phone call was not directly related to the murder of Smith but instead revealed Chavez’s propensity for violence. This evidence was deemed “highly inflammatory” by the justices and prejudiced the jury against Chavez. “The district court committed plain error by allowing the jury to hear evidence that was relevant only to Defendant’s propensity for violence. This evidence was highly inflammatory and deprived Defendant of a fair trial,” Justice C. Shannon Bacon wrote in the opinion.

The court’s decision to overturn the conviction hinged on the improper admission of this inflammatory evidence. The justices ruled that this error deprived Chavez of his right to a fair trial, leading to the decision to vacate his conviction.

Despite the overturned conviction, the court ruled that Chavez could be retried for the murder. This means the state has the option to pursue the case again, but without the tainted evidence that led to the initial conviction.

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At Las Cruces stash house, Border Patrol apprehends another convicted pedo

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Border Patrol agents from the El Paso Sector recently rescued groups of migrants hidden in several stash houses near the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico. 

So far this year, these agents have saved nearly 2,400 migrants from 244 stash houses used for human smuggling.

El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony “Scott” Good shared details on X (formerly Twitter) about one operation where agents, working alongside local sheriff’s deputies, raided a stash house in Dona Ana County, New Mexico. During this raid, they rescued 15 migrants.

Good emphasized that human smugglers subject migrants to overcrowded, unsafe living conditions and use coercion to extort both the migrants and their families.

Just a few days prior, agents from an anti-smuggling unit based in Las Cruces, New Mexico, uncovered another stash house, where they rescued 17 additional migrants. 

During this operation, two individuals were arrested on charges of “Harboring Illegal Aliens,” and agents confiscated $5,300 linked to illegal activities.

Chief Good also reported that agents from the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station detained a previously deported child sex offender who was attempting to re-enter the United States. 

The individual had been previously convicted of third-degree sexual abuse of a child, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and driving under the influence. He now faces potential felony charges for illegal re-entry, which could result in a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

The border crisis continues to be a key issue of the 2024 election, with Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s border czar, being in the crosshairs amid the catastrophe. 

Convicted pedophile among gang members arrested at U.S.-Mexico border

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NM Dems select far-leftist as nominee for state legislative seat

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Sarah Silva, a socialist “community organizer” from Las Cruces, New Mexico, has been unanimously selected as the Democratic nominee for New Mexico House District 53, located in Doña Ana and Otero Counties, after a closed-door meeting of Democrats who did not include any from Otero County to vote in Silva’s selection. 

Following the selection, Silva wrote via Facebook, “I’m honored to have the trust of our party, and ready to shift my focus to making sure this seat stays in Democratic hands. I want to thank the SCC members for the trust they placed in me and for honoring the late Dr. Jon Hill’s wishes and legacy.”

The installation of Silva came after the death of Jon Hill, who was the Democrat nominee for the seat after beating incumbent Willie Madrid in the primary. He endorsed Silva before his death.

Silva is known for her fringe, far-left activism and her leadership of NM Comunidades en Acción y de Fé (CAFe), an organization she founded in 2009.

NM CAFe claims to be a faith-based advocacy group that purports to mobilize communities to address issues of social justice, economic inequality, and “immigrant rights,” which is just a front to harbor criminal aliens who broke laws to flood into the state illegally through the southern border with Mexico.

Her work also involved collaboration with larger national networks, such as “Faith in Action” (formerly PICO), where she continued to champion far-left “progressive” causes.

Under Silva’s leadership, NM CAFe took on issues ranging from pushing abortion to supporting illegal immigration. 

Silva’s approach to activism and community building is deeply aligned with radical left-wing ideologies, emphasizing her intent to “dismantle” systems that she claims are racist and unequitable. One of these extremist policies she champions is universal health care. 

The socialist will face off in November against Elizabeth Winterrowd, who previously lost the seat to Madrid by the narrowest of margins in 2022. 

NM Dems select far-leftist as nominee for state legislative seat Read More »

Powerful new six-figure ad buy blasts Vasquez’ refusal to secure the border

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The American Action Network (AAN) has launched a new wave of advertising targeting several congressional districts, including New Mexico’s 2nd, represented by far-left Democrat Rep. Gabe Vasquez. 

As part of a broader $5 million investment in issue advocacy, the campaign urges lawmakers to support stronger immigration policies, including reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy. 

AAN’s focus in Vasquez’s district comes as part of a larger push to influence policy on immigration and cost of living issues.

According to AAN President Dan Conston, the ads reflect concerns about “the toxic Biden-Harris agenda” and its effects on immigration and rising prices. 

The group is advocating for measures like the Red Tape Reduction Act, which aims to lower costs on everyday items, energy, and healthcare, while also pushing for more stringent border control policies. The ads, set to run on television and digital platforms over the next two weeks, will highlight Vasquez’s stance on these key issues.

AAN has allocated $300,000 specifically for ads targeting Vasquez in New Mexico’s 2nd district, part of an overall summer ad campaign budget totaling $26.5 million. This marks a continued effort by AAN to pressure members of Congress on both immigration and economic reforms.

The campaign comes amid increasing voter concern about border security, with AAN citing a poll showing 62% of battleground voters support the “Remain in Mexico” policy. The ads are expected to play a significant role in shaping the political debate in Vasquez’s district ahead of upcoming legislative actions.

Vasquez faces a fierce reelection battle against Republican former Congresswoman Yvette Herrell, who just this week had an event in Las Cruces with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who strongly endorsed her campaign.

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Former Dem NM Senate president pro-tempore endorses GOP candidate

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Samantha Barncastle Salopek, a farm and ranch advocate and water law attorney, has received a notable endorsement in her bid for New Mexico State Senate District 38, currently held by far-left Democrat Sen. Carrie Hamblen, who supports abortion up-to-birth and pushing hormone blockers on young children without the consent of their parents. 

Far-left Democrat State Sen. Carrie Hamblen

Mary Kay Papen, the former Democrat senator who previously held the seat from 2001 to 2021, has thrown her support behind Salopek, a Republican.

At a recent campaign event, Papen praised Salopek’s candidacy, stating, “If we can get Samantha elected to this position, I think we have somebody that is going to work across the aisle and I think she is going to work for Doña Ana County and New Mexico. I strongly support her and I hope you all get behind her 100%.”

Former Senate President Pro-Tem Papen

Salopek, who has a background in legal advocacy for businesses, farmers, and ranchers, expressed her appreciation for Papen’s endorsement. “Being endorsed by someone so strong and beloved as Senator Mary Kay Papen demonstrates that this district is not defined by party lines. I am running on my experience and as a mother who has navigated the healthcare system, aiming to bring common sense to the chaos of a radical legislature,” Salopek said.

She further added, “I am grateful for the support of Mary Kay Papen and will follow in her leadership, speaking up and working hard for the people of Southern New Mexico.”

The endorsement from Papen, a respected figure in the region, is expected to lend significant weight to Salopek’s campaign as she seeks to make her mark in the state Senate race.

Former Dem NM Senate president pro-tempore endorses GOP candidate Read More »

NM Dems to install new candidate after nominee, who beat moderate Dem, dies

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On Thursday, seven members of the New Mexico Democrat Party will choose a replacement candidate for House District 53 from three contenders. This follows the resignation of Jon Hill, who won the primary for the Southern New Mexico seat with 58% of the vote but stepped down in early August due to health issues. Hill, who died on August 16, was an educator.

Before withdrawing, Hill endorsed Sarah Silva, a long-time organizer and coach from Las Cruces, citing her alignment with his vision for “long-term economic and social growth.”

The selection meeting is set for 6 p.m. tonight but will not be open to the public. The Democratic Party of New Mexico has not disclosed the names of the seven State Central Committee members responsible for the choice, citing privacy concerns.

House District 53 covers most of eastern Doña Ana County, extending to the southern border and including parts of Otero County. It encompasses areas such as Las Cruces, Anthony, and Chaparral.

Daniel Garcia, a party spokesperson, confirmed that all the State Central Committee members involved in the selection reside in Doña Ana County; none are from Otero County.

Among the candidates are Silva, making her first bid for office, and Kasey Peña, a middle school teacher also running for the first time. Rep. Willie Madrid (D-Chaparral), a more moderate Democrat who lost to Hill in the primary, is also seeking the nomination.

Silva has recently gained endorsements from Democratic state legislators in Las Cruces, including Rep. Joanne Ferrary, Rep. Nathan Small, and Sen. Jeff Steinborn. Peña, on the other hand, has received support from six current and former Democratic officials, as well as backing from “LGBTQ” organization Equality New Mexico, Sen. Bill Soules (D-Las Cruces), and Doña Ana County Commissioners Manny Sanchez and Christopher Schaljo-Hernandez.

Madrid, who has not sought endorsements, expressed concerns about the fairness of the process, noting that Chaparral will be represented only by two advisory members at the meeting, who will not have voting rights.

The selected Democrat candidate will face Republican Elizabeth Winterrowd in the November election. Winterrowd narrowly lost to Madrid in 2022.

NM Dems to install new candidate after nominee, who beat moderate Dem, dies Read More »

In maniacal DNC speech, MLG auditions to be Harris’ abortion czar

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On Tuesday night, far-left pro-abortion Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham gave her best shot at an attempt to headline “healthcare” issues in the potential Kamala Harris regime come 2025 with a Democrat National Convention (DNC) speech. 

She had a significant focus on abortion up-to-birth policies and wooing doctors from pro-life states to come to kill babies in the womb in pro-abortion states like New Mexico.

“Donald Trump and J.D. Vance want to dismantle our health care system, repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), and eliminate protections for pre-existing conditions,” the far-left fringe governor declared, despite that not being the case other than the GOP ticket vowing to do away with the socialist, antiquated Obama-era law and stop it from repelling doctors and media professionals from states like New Mexico.

She said, “Either these guys don’t get it, or they just don’t care,” referring to Trump and Vance, despite Trump lowering health care costs for Americans by lowering premiums and drug costs and giving veterans a choice in their health care decisions.

“You know who gets it? Kamala Harris gets it, and she cares,” the radical leftist declared. “Do you know what Donald Trump delivered? Junk plans, higher premiums, and abortion bans,” she claimed, despite Democrats clinging on to the failed Obamacare framework after the former Sen. John McCain joined Democrats in helping stop the repeal of the outdated and flawed law that resulted in premiums skyrocketing and people forced not to be insured due to said high prices.

She touted how Harris claims she will give abortions to “any woman who needs it,” adding that the pro-abortion Democrat “nominee” is the “president America needs.”

Lujan Grisham is known for ramming through a 2021 law that stripped any and all protections for babies, expectant mothers, and healthcare professionals to effectively legalize abortion up-to-birth and create the possibility for the continuance of infanticide in the Land of Enchantment.

The audition to be Harris’ abortion czar was met with applause by the rabidly anti-life audience, which frothed at the mouth at the idea of more kids being killed prematurely.

To prove the DNC’s pro-abortion bona fides, at least 25 babies were killed at a mobile unit set up in a truck by Planned Parenthood for DNC attendees to kill their babies while at the convention. 

In maniacal DNC speech, MLG auditions to be Harris’ abortion czar Read More »

MLG to promote abortion up-to-birth during Tuesday DNC speech

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Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is set to deliver a prime-time speech at the Democrat National Convention (DNC) on Tuesday evening in Chicago. The speech will focus on healthcare issues, a controversial topic for the far-left governor. 

While Lujan Grisham enjoys her position in the national spotlight as she auditions for a potential posting in the nonexistent Harris regime, it’s essential to reflect on her contentious record, particularly her harsh pandemic lockdowns and extreme abortion stance.

Lujan Grisham is no stranger to the DNC stage, having spoken remotely at the 2020 convention from a solar array in New Mexico as she had New Mexico under cruel lockdowns during COVID-19. 

Her lockdown measures were some of the most severe in the nation, shuttering businesses and keeping families separated for months on end. While the governor claimed these measures were necessary, many New Mexicans suffered immensely, with businesses permanently closing and countless livelihoods disrupted. She also repeatedly flouted these lockdown orders, in one case, to buy jewelry at a shuttered business she had reopened just for her.

Despite the harsh pandemic measures, Lujan Grisham seems more focused on her radical agenda, particularly her obsession with abortion. She has staunchly advocated for abortion up to birth, the most radical stance possible. 

In 2021, she signed a bill overturning New Mexico’s long-dormant state abortion protections, effectively making the state a hub for late-term abortions. Lujan Grisham’s priorities have consistently aligned with radical pro-abortion policies, ignoring the values of many in her state.

On Tuesday, Lujan Grisham will share the stage with high-profile Democrats like Barack and Michelle Obama at the United Center, once again positioning herself as a national figure. 

While her speech is expected to focus on health care, her record in New Mexico tells a different story—one of failed leadership during the pandemic and a fixation on abortion at the expense of other critical issues, such as crime, which she has only recently begun to focus on as Albuquerque ranks 20th most deadly city in the world.

In addition to her speech, Lujan Grisham will participate in a panel discussion with actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus and other female Democrat governors on Wednesday. While the governor enjoys the attention of the national stage, her record in New Mexico is a stark reminder of the damage caused by her lockdown policies and her extreme stance on abortion.

New Mexico continues to struggle with a shortage of healthcare providers, and Lujan Grisham’s administration has attempted to address this by recruiting abortion doctors and pro-abortion nurses from Texas. However, her policies—particularly during the pandemic—have done little to resolve the state’s chronic healthcare challenges. Under her leadership, malpractice insurance skyrocketed for doctors, forcing countless providers to flee to other states where they would not be sued into bankruptcy due to New Mexico’s sue-happy laws that favor trial attorneys — not patients or providers. 

Lujan Grisham’s political ambitions have always been clear, and her national presence at the DNC further cements her continued attempt for the spotlight. However, New Mexicans must not forget the consequences of her policies: brutal lockdowns that harmed businesses and communities and her unwavering commitment to an abortion-up-to-birth agenda that remains out of step with many in her state.

MLG to promote abortion up-to-birth during Tuesday DNC speech Read More »

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