On Wednesday about 70 international students filled a SUB conference room to listen to U.S. Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham, and receive answers regarding recent executive orders, visa issues and other related concerns.
The Democratic congresswoman, who represents UNM’s congressional district, responded to questions presented by a handful of UNM students and faculty.
All of the students and many of the faculty were immigrants, and the congresswoman’s presentation was centered around students’ questions and stories.
“I can take these stories back to Washington, D.C.,” Lujan Grisham said.
Like other congressional representatives from around the U.S., Lujan Grisham pledged she would escort visa holders and immigrants through airport customs to ensure their safe return, if needed.
“I will go the extra mile,” she said.
Madagascar native Rijasoa Andriamanana, a graduate student who attended the presentation, questioned how much power President Donald Trump had over immigration policy.
“How far can he go?” Andriamanana asked.
“He can go very far,” Lujan Grisham responded, “and I find that very troubling.”
Andriamanana explained she had experienced the last three presidential elections and previously “didn’t care who was president.”
That changed in 2016 when she began attending “all the rallies and everything, because I thought (the Trump campaign) was a joke.”
“This is not the America I know,” Andriamanana said. “I’m starting to lose my hope.”
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Andriamanana said she was concerned about the Jan. 27 executive order barring citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries, a divisive action by the Trump administration that Lujan Grisham addressed.
“Anytime you’re banning it’s going to be based on ethnicity, race or religion — which our Constitution doesn’t allow,” she said.
As for immigration reform, Lujan Grisham suggested the country needed “to fix the entire immigration system,” and that the “current Congress is working hard to get the 11 million immigrants to leave.”
Both houses of Congress are controlled by Republican lawmakers.
As of Wednesday’s presentation, there were 37 Republican-proposed bills outlining changes to immigration laws.
While some extended harsher punishments on previously deported immigrants and the denial of federal funding to municipalities not willing to comply with immigration officials, or so-called “sanctuary cities,” none propose extensive deportation proceedings.
Lujan Grisham, who announced her gubernatorial run in December, extended an apology to the international students in attendance.
“I want to apologize for a government that can run better and hasn’t,” she said.
Some audience members had concerns about U.S. immigration policy.
“There’s a problem with linking our immigration policy with law enforcement,” said Jami Nunez, a political science professor. “What can we do to protect that separation?”
Lujan Grisham said citizens’ opinions matter for representatives, and that contacting them was important. She said plans had been made “to turn up the heat in D.C.” in an effort to advocate for constituents’ rights.
About 15 international students — natives of many countries including Sudan, Syria and Russia — asked questions about their status.
Lujan Grisham’s staff members passed out business cards and social media information to students who required more detailed responses.
Linda Melville, the associate director of International Student and Scholar Services at UNM, said she supports the international community in attendance.
“These past few weeks have been somewhat frightening,” she said, but added that “many of us here in New Mexico and the United States believe in you and your conviction.”
“I want all young women and young men and people of all ages to feel welcome in New Mexico and that this is your home,” Lujan Grisham said. “We’re going to keep fighting because that’s what you elected us to do.”
Brendon Gray is a news reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @notgraybrendon.
