logo
New Mexico state senator, former migrant, talks about immigration

New Mexico state senator, former migrant, talks about immigration

Reuters14-02-2025

Summary
Cindy Nava came to US at age 7, has been citizen for three years
State Sen Nava is first ex-Dreamer elected to public office
Her first bill would prohibit state resources for federal raids
Feb 14 (Reuters) - New Mexico state Senator Cindy Nava recalled how her father, a former police officer in Chihuahua, Mexico, instilled in her a respect for the law even though he brought his family to the U.S. illegally.
"We grew up with this notion of rule of law, and you follow the law, and the irony is that we're (illegal) immigrants," said Nava, who counts herself the first former illegal immigrant and enrollee in the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to be elected to public office in the U.S.
As a former Dreamer who has been a U.S. citizen for just three years, Nava has a more nuanced view than many Americans do of the illegal immigration issue that propelled President Donald Trump back into office.
Among the first bills she sponsored after entering office January 1 would stop state and local police resources being used to support Trump's federal deportation raids.
For her, it is a matter of law. Immigration enforcement is not a state or local duty.
She supports federal agents going after criminal illegal immigrants and supports cooperation between local and federal police in special cases, like human trafficking.
"Criminals absolutely need to be apprehended, and the issue here is how do you define a criminal," said Nava in an interview from her office in the Roundhouse, the state legislature's building in Santa Fe.
After Republican gains among Hispanic voters in 2024, Nava, an up-and-coming Democratic legislator, sees a way forward for Democrats with candidates like herself who understand working-class Latino voters.
"I think sticking to our values, and ensuring that the representation is authentic, I think that is a lesson, because we saw the other side tap into it," said Nava, who in 2016 enrolled in DACA, which guards against deportation of undocumented people who arrived in the U.S. as children.
Such people were commonly referred to as "Dreamers," based on never-passed proposals called the DREAM Act. When Nava hears Democrats like U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona talk about the need for heightened border security and immigration reform, she agrees.
Last month Gallego voted for a Republican measure that directs federal authorities to deport illegal immigrants charged with theft or certain violent crimes, outraging many, opens new tab Arizona Democrats.
Nava's family emigrated to New Mexico when she was seven. Her mother works as a housekeeper while her father is a construction worker.
She became hooked on politics as a teenager, taking unpaid internships at the Roundhouse for a decade. She was a senior policy adviser at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Biden administration.
"We don't need saviors, we don't need people to talk on our behalf," Nava said.
She is concerned about Trump's portrayal of all unauthorized migrants being portrayed as criminals, and the profiling of citizens who may appear to look like them. Native American leaders in New Mexico have urged tribal members to carry state-issued identification cards and their Certificate of Indian Blood, an official U.S. document certifying a person has Native American ancestry, in case they are caught up in Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
"Folks are so fearful, folks that are not necessarily immigrants," Nava said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Poll: Trump's latest approval rating falls
Poll: Trump's latest approval rating falls

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

Poll: Trump's latest approval rating falls

A new poll shows that President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen after his public feud with Elon Musk over the spending bill he is trying to push through Congress. Trump's approval rating is now at 47 percent, according to the latest Daily Mail tracking poll conducted with J.L. Partners. The majority of Republicans, 59 percent, side with Trump, while just 12 percent side with Musk. Twenty-eight percent of Republicans remain unsure. Twenty-six percent of unaffiliated Americans also support Trump, with 20 percent siding with Musk. A plurality of Democrats now side with Musk, with 35 percent now backing him rather than just ten percent who support Trump. The majority of Democrats and unaffiliated Americans, each at 54 percent, are also uncertain about who to side with, suggesting room for each figure to grow their support. Despite Musk's threat on Thursday to create a new political third-party, there is still minimal support among American voters for the idea. Just four percent of voters signal support for a Musk party while 42 percent support a Democratic candidate and 35 percent support Republicans. After hardcore Trump supporters publicly called for Musk to get deported, just 30 percent of Americans support the idea while 35 percent of opposed. Musk left the White House at the end of May ending his time as a special advisor to Trump and spearheading his effort to cut government waste, fraud, and abuse with his DOGE team. But voters are increasingly skeptical about the success of his efforts. Forty-one percent view Musk's DOGE as a failure and 33 percent view it as a success.

Union membership increases in Reform-led councils
Union membership increases in Reform-led councils

South Wales Guardian

time3 hours ago

  • South Wales Guardian

Union membership increases in Reform-led councils

The GMB said workers were 'flocking' to join unions amid fears of cuts to pay, jobs and conditions by Reform. Councils where the GMB has seen an increase in membership include Durham, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Doncaster. Nigel Farage? Weak on Putin. Threatens our NHS. #GMB25 — GMB Union (@GMB_union) June 8, 2025 GMB national officer Rachel Harrison told the PA news agency: 'Reform spouts a lot of nonsense about being on the side of workers, but these figures show people aren't buying it. 'Workers in Reform-led councils are flocking to join unions because they know the first thing Farage and his cronies will do is attack low-paid staff's terms and conditions.' GMB general secretary Gary Smith launched an angry attack against Reform in a speech to the union's annual conference in Brighton at the weekend, saying Nigel Farage and his 'ex-Tory soulmates' were no friends of workers. 'They've spent a political lifetime attacking trade unions and the rights we have all fought so hard for. Decent pay, better conditions, protections we cherish. 'Why is it always the posh, private schoolboys who want act like they're working-class heroes? 'Do they really think we can't see the bankers, the chancers, the anti-union blowhards? 'If Reform are so pro-worker, why did they just vote against protections against fire and rehire? Why did they vote against sick pay for all workers? Why did they vote against fair pay for carers? Why did they vote against trade union rights to access and organise in places like Amazon? 'Now they are going to run town halls, and the first thing they want to do is sack council workers. 'It's high time they were called out for their sneering, snooty attitude about so-called 'gold-plated' pensions. Go ask a local authority care worker, refuse collector, street cleaner, school support staff member if they think their meagre pension is gold-plated. 'Reform's abuse and name-calling of low-paid public sector workers is an utter disgrace.'

Live updates: Trump warns California officials amid immigration protests; 12-country travel ban goes into effect
Live updates: Trump warns California officials amid immigration protests; 12-country travel ban goes into effect

NBC News

time4 hours ago

  • NBC News

Live updates: Trump warns California officials amid immigration protests; 12-country travel ban goes into effect

What to know today California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other Democrats said Trump's deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to help quell protests in the city over immigration raids will only ratchet up tensions and escalate the situation. Trump and his 'border czar,' Tom Homan, have threatened to arrest any government officials who impede federal enforcement efforts, prompting a defiant Newsom to respond, "So, Tom, arrest me. Let's go." Trump's travel ban went into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET for 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Seven more countries face visa restrictions, including Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store