March 12, 2008
Editor's note: Below is a news release from the office of U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), followed by a resolution by Dona Ana County Commissioners regarding Lomas de Poleo.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman met Tuesday with Eduardo Medina-Mora and Arturo Sarukhan, the Mexican attorney general and ambassador to the United States, respectively, to discuss violence along the border and other important border-related issues.
Citing an increase in drug-related violence, Bingaman wrote to Ambassador Sarukhan urging Mexico to step up security in Palomas and other cities in northwest Chihuahua. Sarukhan and Medina-Mora visited Bingaman today in his Capitol Hill office to report that they are aware of the uptick in violence and are committed to stepping up efforts to fight drug trafficking. The Mexican officials also said additional Mexican law enforcement resources are being sent to the Palomas area.
“In recent weeks, we’ve seen an increase in violence in the border region. Today’s meeting was an opportunity for me to convey to the Mexican government that New Mexicans have serious concerns about this violence and that it needs to be addressed right away,” Bingaman said.
Bingaman also took the opportunity to present the attorney general and ambassador with a copy of a resolution passed today by the Doña Ana County Commission that raises concerns regarding the safety of residents of Lomas del Poleo – a Mexican community just south of Sunland Park. Lomas del Poleo is a colonia that is subject to an ongoing land dispute.
“I’m glad I was able to bring this issue to the attention of the Mexican attorney general, and that he committed to looking into the situation,” Bingaman said.
Finally, Bingaman urged the Mexican officials to find ways to improve health care in Palomas to take some pressure off the already over-stressed health care system in southern New Mexico.
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A RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners has heard the concerns of the residents of Lomas del Poleo, and
WHEREAS, the State of New Mexico, U.S. Federal Agencies, and Doña Ana County are committed to investing in successful bi-national development of our border for the benefit of all residents, and
WHEREAS, the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners believes that a successful bi-national community with manageable immigration and border security requires that residents are safe and healthy on both sides of the border, and
WHEREAS, the residents of Lomas del Poleo inhabit a parcel of land immediately adjacent to the proposed Sunland Park/Anapra port of entry, and
WHEREAS, the Chihuahua State Human Rights Commission, Paso del Norte Center for Human Rights, and other organizations have documented the concerns of the residents of Lomas del Poleo, and have taken an active role in pursuing a resolution for the land dispute, and
WHEREAS, the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners, as a governing body immediately adjacent to the Mexican border, acknowledges its respect for the Mexican government and that due process limits its direct intervention and assistance to the residents, but asks that the public scrutiny of this issue and public resources be directed toward a just and expeditious resolution of the immediate needs of the residents,
NOW THEREFORE, the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners does hereby respectfully request that New Mexico Governor Richardson, New Mexico Senators Bingaman and Domenici, Bishop Ramirez and the Council of Bishops, local, state, Federal officials from the El Paso, TX and Jurarez, Mexico areas, and the human rights groups, working with governmental leaders on both sides of the border, meet immediately to implement a peaceful and just resolution to the situation in Lomas del Poleo, including:
1. An expeditious resolution of the land dispute that is pending in the Mexican judicial system;
2. Re-installation of electric power and a functioning potable water system for th4e community to ensure that as due process procedures for resolution of the dispute proceed, basic human necessities are available for residents; and
3. An examination by the US Delegation from New Mexico as to what international aid resources may be available to assist in providing basic services to these residents as this situation is being resolved.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this XXth day of February, 2008
Board of County Commissioners
Doña Ana County, New Mexico
Board of County Commissioners for Doña Ana County, New Mexico
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D. Kent Evans, Chairman William J. McCamley, Vice-Chairman
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Dolores Saldaña-Caviness, Member Oscar Vásquez Butler, Member
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Karen G. Perez, Member Attested: Rita Torres, County Clerk