On Friday, June 20, approximately 2000 people marched in Downtown Albuquerque to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and call for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
ICE has conducted raids across the United States, with a quota of 3000 arrests daily, according to Reuters. The New Mexico Immigration Law Center has seen a rise in local ICE arrests, including at people’s homes, workplaces and immigration court hearings, according to Source NM.
The protest began at Civic Plaza, during which mariachi performers sang and played songs, and organizers gave speeches to the crowd before the march.
Protesters then marched from Tijeras Avenue to Lomas Boulevard and occupied the intersection of Lomas and 4th Street for speeches, before marching back to the Civic Plaza on 4th Street, where the protest concluded, having lasted around three hours.
Alexandria Aragon and Destiny Lopez, two of the organizers of the protest, said this was their first time organizing an event this large.
“I want to be the voice for the community that cannot speak to themselves right now because they're in fear every day that they could be sent into horrible detention centers and camps,” Aragon said.
According to a March 2024 report by Colorado College researchers that partnered with the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, immigrants who lack permanent legal status detained at the New Mexican Immigration Detention Facilities in Milan and Estancia experienced “inhuman conditions,” including potential excessive force by guards, inadequate medical and mental health care, exposure to health hazards from ill-prepared food and further violations of the 2011 Performance-Based National Detention Standards.
Aragon said that she wants to see more rights being given to the immigrants in New Mexico and to people who are trying to get the legal pathway to citizenship.
“(We) also want the legal pathway to be faster, quicker, easier. So people don't have to wait 10 to 15 years to become a legal citizen,” Lopez said.
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on X @paloma_chapa88
Jaden McKelvey-Francis contributed reporting to this story.
More
PHOTO STORY: Local food trucks bring culinary variety to the community
June 17More variety is the key for food when people go to an event, or maybe they’re just looking for a quick and authentic bite to eat. Food trucks are the answer this summer as people are looking to recharge for the fall semester and for wider options for quick eats. For students and people around UNM, there are a number of options to fit your taste; for Mexican cuisine there’s Takoroto, for Indian cuisine there’s ABQ Desi Bites and for street food there’s Tikka Spice.
PHOTO STORY: Summertime brings new faces and good vibes to UNM
June 9It’s the start of the next phase for the University Of New Mexico's Central Campus in June as spring is over and the summer months give time for the trees and scenery to recharge for the upcoming edition of fall. Another main key for the summer season is that they allow the new students the opportunity to see the beauty of Central Campus, not being busy or crowded, and just enjoy the environment that is UNM. Incoming students can get their first introductions at features such as the Student Union Building and the Duck Pond. It also provides students the chance to learn where their next potential class may take place. A positive in regards to the campus being emptier is that it allows construction crews a better chance to get things done and fixed before the next semester. Even though campus is quiet during the season, there remains plenty of work to do to keep the campus clean before more students return in August. Alex Joe is a freelance videographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at photo@dailylobo.com or on X @DailyLobo
PHOTOSTORY: UNM’s SUB, a centerpiece for students.
May 26The University Of New Mexico’s Student Union Building is the main space for students to get involved, grab a snack and learn about events on campus. On the lower level (or Plaza) of the SUB, activities such as the arts and craft studio, Louie’s Lounge recreation area and SUB Theater can be found. Louie’s Lounge is a great spot for gamers, as the lounge features pool tables, ping-pong, foosball, video games, and board games. In the 2nd (or Mall) level of the SUB, there are a number of good eats for students. Chick-fil-A, Dion’s Pizza, Mandalay Express, Subway, Blake’s Lotaburger and Draft & Table are all available for dining, though some stay open later than others. Along with the places for dining, a Mercado convenience store location can be found in the plaza level of the SUB. Students can find out about various clubs and chartered student organizations inside the Student Activities Center on the first floor. Offices for the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico and the Graduate and Professional Student Association, the University’s undergraduate and graduate student unions, respectively, are also housed on the plaza level. Alex Joe is a freelance videographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at photo@dailylobo.com or on X @DailyLobo
