ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A committee that helps immigrant communities in Santa Fe has been dormant for the last several years. But now, following Wednesday’s City Council meeting in the state’s capital, the Immigration Committee will once again be back in full swing. “We are, and have always been, an open and welcoming city,” said Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber.
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The Immigration Committee in Santa Fe was created more than two decades ago. During Joe Biden’s presidency, there was less concern surrounding the administration’s immigration policy and the group fell to the background. However, with Trump now in office, it’s making a return. “It became immediately obvious that we need to stand up our Immigration Committee again,” Mayor Webber said.
The nine appointed members consist of experts in several fields, including social services, health care, human rights, and legal services. “It’s gonna be some hard work,” Mayor Webber explained. “It’s gonna be some long hours, and there’s going to be some pressure involved.”
According to Mayor Webber, the committee would be a central sounding board on how to respond to President Trump’s immigration policies. One thing he would like them to work on is a centralized list of organizations and all the resources they can offer immigrant communities. However, the committee will not have any decision-making powers. “They can make specific recommendations to the governing body about actions that they believe would be in the best interest of the community,” Mayor Webber said.
The city must first finish some procedural process’ before the group can officially meet. They hope to have the team up and running by mid-February. “Our policies are absolutely clear, our values are absolutely clear, and we’re not going to change them,” Webber said.