LAS CRUCES, NM—Local civil and immigrant rights advocates, criminal justice experts, faith leaders and Las Cruces residents will gather outside Las Cruces City Hall on Friday to call on City Council to pass a resolution affirming its commitment to protecting civil rights and public safety for everyone.
Since President Trump’s executive orders on immigration and border enforcement and mid-February ICE raids near Las Cruces, community groups have received reports of increased absences in schools, families skipping doctor appointments, and a decline in reporting of crimes and domestic abuse.
In response, the ACLU of New Mexico Regional Center for Border Rights (ACLU-NM RCBR), NM Comunidades en Acción y de Fé (NM CAFÉ), Catholic Charities of Southern NM, and Hope Border Institute are partnering to urge Las Cruces to pass a resolution that reinforces the city’s right to make their own decisions about how best to build trust with immigrant communities—trust that is vital to ensuring everyone feels safe calling on our city for help.
What: Welcoming Community and Freedom City Action
When: Friday, April 21st at 5:30pm
Where: Plaza in front of Las Cruces City Hall, 700 N Main St, Las Cruces, NM 88001
Who: Program to include poetry readings and testimony from faith leaders, service providers, community members and civil and human rights advocates, including Caravan participants.
Background on the Caravan’s Against Fear:
The Caravan Against Fear is a grassroots mobilization that is traveling from California to Texas to defend immigrant rights, keep families together, resist Trump, and build momentum for the May 1 National Strike. More info on their journey found here.