ENLACE Comunitario
Rape Crisis Center of Central New Mexico
New Mexico Asian Family Center

-Press Release-
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact:  Claudia Medina (505) 417-2173

Victims’ Advocates and Survivors Express Concern about the
Impact of Gov. Martinez’ Immigrant Policy Agenda

(ALBUQUERQUE) Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Today domestic violence and sexual assault advocates who work day-to-day with domestic violence immigrant victims and their children held a press conference expressing concern about Governor Susana Martinez’ immigration policies which they say are hurting New Mexico’s most vulnerable populations.
 
Days into her first term, Governor Martinez issued an Executive Order that mandates that State Police inquire into the immigration status of anyone suspected of a crime. Governor Martinez has also made one of her top legislative priorities repealing a law which allows immigrants to apply for drivers’ licenses. Both these actions have eroded trust between police and immigrant communities.
 
“It is not only the actual policies which are frightening victims, but the divisive use of anti-immigrant rhetoric which is having a chilling impact on victims,” says Claudia Medina, Executive Director of Enlace Comunitario.  “Over the past ten years we have passed model policies in New Mexico which are conducive to community policing and to immigrant victims reporting. This trust has now been eroded. Public safety shouldn’t be politicized at the expense of the safety of our communities’ most vulnerable populations.”
 
Speaking for the New Mexico Domestic Violence Coalition, Daniel Manzano said, “In regards to the changes to the Executive Order, the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence discouragespolicies that formalize collaborations between local law enforcement and federal immigration, because it increases the immigrant victims fear of law enforcement. We don’t want victims to fear police. ”
 
Andrea Serrano, a community educator of the Rape Crisis Center of Central New Mexico, said, “There is already a fear of reporting rape. When you add in the fear of deportation, it means fewer sexual assault victims come forward to receive services. This makes us all less safe.”
 
Sherry Spitzer, the Executive Director of the New Mexico Asian Family Center continued saying, “increased collaboration with police and ICE such as what is promoted in the Governor’s Executive Order, impacts all immigrant communities. In many Asian communities, talking about or reporting domestic violence is already taboo. We are concerned that the Executive Order will force Asian victims further into the shadows.”
 
Domestic abuse survivor and client of Enlace Comunitario, Maria Elena stated, “Every woman who is experiencing domestic violence will think a thousand times before calling the police.  Now I wouldn’t call the police because I would be even more afraid that I would get deported, because of everything that is happening, because of what the Governor has done.”                                    
-END-