Residents, council talk ‘cariño’ as Trump takes office

Dozens of Las Crucens expressed fear but promised resistance regarding promises of mass deportation and repression of LGBTQ rights in a lengthy public comment session at the Jan. 21 meeting of the Las Cruces City Council. 

The session was held a day after Donald Trump was sworn in as president of the United States for a second time, in Washington.

Residents of various ages and backgrounds spoke about how mass deportation would affect them, their families and their friends. Five of the seven councilors in attendance acknowledged the fears and promised support. 

“We believe that we are a ‘city of cariño,” Mayor Eric Enriquez said, referring to a slogan adopted by the city professing love and care. “We are a welcoming city. We will continue to work with whatever we need to do and whatever resolutions we need to continue the support and means to help those individuals here and work for our residents here in Las Cruces.”

“Our community has always been special and close,” said Lucas Herdon, a community organizer and activist who kicked off the public comment session. He continued: “The Las Cruces I know is inclusive, not divisive. Please work for that,” he said. 

Jovany Hernandez, a community organizer at New Mexico Dream Team, the state’s largest youth-led immigrant rights organization, said mass deportation would deprive him of friends and family who are immigrants. 

In terms of the administration’s anti-LGBTQ agenda, Hernandez said this, too, would deprive him of his friends and family, many of whom are queer or transgender. 

“I’m proud to call them my friends and work every day to make sure they feel safe in my presence and in our community. Those friendships and their very lives are at stake under this administration,” he said. 

Robert Williams, who identified himself as a business owner and father, asked the council and staff to proceed as if they were acting on their children’s behalf. 

“A true leader, I believe, doesn't just take orders from people. They give orders as well and remember that, especially you, Mr. (Jeremy) Story,” Williams said,  addressing the city’s police chief. “I’m not trying to single you out. I know your job is hard. And there are no border patrol agents to speak to, but you guys (the police) are not the Gestapo.” 

After the public comment session and regular business, the council responded to the comments. Councilor Yvonne Flores was not present for the entire meeting, and Councilor Bill Mattiace left before the end of the meeting. 

Councilor Cassie McClure said she saw and heard things that disturbed her during the televised presidential inauguration ceremony. She said it prompted her to have what she called a difficult conversation with her family. 

“We’re going to have hard conversations here at city council too. And I just want to let you know, to those that are afraid, I see you. I hear you. And I’m with you,” McClure said. 

McClure brought the conversation back to cariño. 

“Our cariño isn’t just empty. It means something. It means that everyone is welcome here. And it's our job to hold the line against hate,” McClure said. 

Councilor Becki Graham did not address the public commenters directly, instead calling for compromise at the New Mexico Legislature. She asked that representatives consider multiple perspectives and find common ground. 

Councilor Becky Corran noted that the inauguration had occurred on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. She pointed out that King faced seemingly insurmountable backlash and disapproval from much of the American public prior to his assassination in 1968.

“It’s a basic human quality that we care about you. It’s part of what we do here in the city. We owe you a fight for your existence and belonging,” Corran said. 

Councilor Johana Bencomo, who is often the target of local conservative backlash and has been the target of threats of violence, said that living in the imagination of people who want to scapegoat immigrants, LGBTQ residents and other marginalized groups is unfeasible and exhausting. 

“Hate. Deny. Erase. That is a miserable imagination. And I do not want to live into it,” she said.