Complaint: US Agents Looting Immigrants Before Deportations – The Associated Press
A new complaint says U.S. Border Patrol agents are looting immigrants of possessions before deporting them to Mexico without their IDs or money.
The ACLU of New Mexico and a coalition of advocacy groups filed the administrative complaint with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday and say the seizures are endangering migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to the complaint, immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally were deported without their belongings in 26 separate cases. Advocates say immigrants were deported to cities in Mexico where they have no acquaintances.
"The seizures have been occurring along the border for years."
ACLU of New Mexico attorney Kristin Greer Love says the seizures have been occurring along the border for years.
DHS spokeswoman Gillian Christensen says the department has a policy of safe-guarding detainees' property.
Eighth Judge Excused From Political Fraud Case In New Mexico – Associated Press
A criminal fraud and bribery complaint against former New Mexico Sen. Phil Griego has been reassigned to a new judge for the ninth time.
Santa Fe District Court Judge David Thomson was handed the case Tuesday. Griego's attorney excused Judge Sarah Singleton without explanation under provisions designed to ensure impartiality.
Griego pleaded not guilty at a Monday arraignment to criminal counts including fraud, bribery, perjury and tampering with public records. He was released on his own recognizance without a bail requirement.
If one more judge is excused, the next would need to be called in from another district or out of retirement.
Previously, seven judges recused themselves from the Griego case. Delays in the case have highlighted ties in Santa Fe among politicians and judges.
Spat Escalates Over Secret Legislative Records In New Mexico – The Associated Press
Staff attorneys and advisers to the New Mexico Legislature are standing by their refusal to turn over documents to prosecutors in the criminal investigation of former state Sen. Phil Griego.
The Legislative Council Service said Wednesday in court filings it is duty-bound to protect privileged communications between lawmakers including Griego and aides who help draft legislation.
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas alleges that Greigo used his role as a senator to profit from the sale of a state owned building, and has subpoenaed background files on a legislative initiative that paved the way for the sale. Prosecutors also are seeking records from a Senate ethics committee that investigated the matter. That investigation prompted Griego's resignation in March 2015.
Griego has pleaded not guilty to fraud, bribery and other charges.
Marines Crews Conducting Refueling Training In Las Cruces – The Associated Press
A southern New Mexico airport is hosting Marine Corp training in which aircraft crews practice refueling operations after flying in from Arizona.
Las Cruces International Airport officials say a training exercise scheduled Wednesday evening at the airport allows personnel to practice forward staging of equipment and fuel by refueling Osprey aircraft from a C-130 tanker.
A Marine Corps Air Station Yuma spokesman says the aircraft and crews are temporarily out of from the Arizona base where they're participating in a training course.
A Marine Corps Air Station Yuma spokesman says the aircraft and crews are temporarily out of from the Arizona base where they're participating in a training course.
According to Las Cruces airport officials, the C-130 lands first and sits on the runway. Then the Ospreys arrive to be refueled from the tanker.
Ospreys are hybrid transport aircraft that can fly like an airplane and take off and land like a helicopter.
New Mexico AG Wants Felon To Resign From School Board – The Associated Press & KRQE
The New Mexico Attorney General's Office has told a northern New Mexico school board member convicted of cocaine possession he must resign or face the law.
KRQE-TV in Albuquerque reports the New Mexico Attorney General's Office have given West Las Vegas School Board member Anthony Leroy Benavidez two weeks to step down.
A letter sent to Benavidez says if Benavidez is found to be holding his office illegally by April 20, state prosecutors may file "criminal or civil sanctions."
State court records show Benavidez was convicted in 2002 for felony drug possession.
New Mexico law prevents convicted felons from holding office without a pardon. Benavidez didn't disclose his conviction when he ran for office.
Benavidez told KRQE-TV he won't resign until the attorney general takes him to court.
EPA Proposes Adding Colorado Mines To Superfund List – The Associated Press
Nearly 50 mining sites in southwestern Colorado, including one that spilled a torrent of wastewater into New Mexico and Utah last summer, are a bit closer to getting funding for a comprehensive cleanup.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed adding the sites, along with seven other locations nationally, to its list of sites with priority to get Superfund funding Wednesday.
The EPA has proposed a Superfund designation for the Gold King Mine and other nearby sites before but residents feared it would hurt the tourist-dependent economy. Local governments along with Gov. John Hickenlooper now endorse it.
The EPA will take public comment on the proposal before deciding whether to add the sites. If they are, cleanup work could still be months or years away after studies and planning.
Proposed Water Pipeline Would Connect Santa Fe, Eastern NM – The Associated Press
Santa Fe officials will consider an updated plan to bring water to the city through a pipeline from eastern New Mexico.
Roswell rancher Ron Green proposed a similar plan in 2007, causing widespread opposition in the southern part of the state. The controversial idea was the subject of 35 protests before the Office of the State Engineer rejected it in 2011.
Green says Santa Fe officials invited his company Berrendo LLC to discuss the new proposal. A City Council committee meeting will continue the discussion on Wednesday.
A memo by city water resources coordinator Andrew Erdmann says the new pipeline route would take water from Fort Sumner to Encino, then north along U.S. 285 to Interstate 40, east on I-40 and north into Santa Fe.
A 54-Year-Old Man From Cibola County Dies From Hantavirus – Associated Press
State health officials say a 54-year-old man from Cibola County has died of hantavirus.
The New Mexico Department of Health says it's the second case of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in the state this year.
An environmental investigation will be conducted at the patient's home to help reduce the risk to others.
The name of the victim wasn't released Tuesday.
Hantavirus is a deadly disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings or saliva.
People can contract the disease when they breathe in aerosolized virus.
Health officials say the deer mouse is the main carrier for the hantavirus strain found in New Mexico.
Since 1993, New Mexico has reported 103 lab-confirmed HPS cases with 43 deaths. That's the highest number of cases of any state.
Complaint: US Agents Looting Immigrants Before Deportations -
By Russell Contreras, Associated Press
A new complaint says U.S. Border Patrol agents are looting immigrants of possessions before deporting them to Mexico without their IDs or money.
The ACLU of New Mexico and a coalition of advocacy groups filed the administrative complaint with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday and say the seizures are endangering migrants at the
According to the complaint, immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally were deported without their belongings in 26 separate cases. Advocates say immigrants were deported to cities in Mexico where they have no acquaintances.
ACLU of New Mexico attorney Kristin Greer Love says the seizures have been occurring along the border for years.
DHS spokeswoman Gillian Christensen says the department has a policy of safe-guarding detainees' property.
Maverick New Mexico Lawmaker Gets Back In State Senate Race – Associated Press
A New Mexico district court judge has signed a settlement agreement allowing former state lawmaker Sandra Jeff to run in the Democratic primary for a Senate district traversing tribal lands in the northwest of the state.
The order from Judge Sarah Singleton was released Tuesday and reverses a decision to disqualify Jeff's candidacy against incumbent Democratic Sen. Benny Shendo.
Jeff frequently voted with Republican colleagues during her past tenure in the New Mexico House of Representatives. She was disqualified from running in a Democratic primary for her House seat in 2014 for not collecting enough petition signatures and lost later as a write-in candidate.
Jeff asserted in her recent court appeal that state election officials overstepped their authority in a dispute over a late-filed campaign finance report.
New Mexico Governor Weighs In On Medicaid Fraud – Associated Press
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez says Medicaid dollars should be used to provide basic health care for people in need, not on private planes for wealthy CEOs.
The governor made the comment Tuesday after Attorney General Hector Balderas cleared the last two behavioral health providers who were accused of fraud.
In 2013, Martinez's administration froze payments to 15 nonprofit providers after an audit alleged they mishandled $36 million in Medicaid funding. An investigation was then launched by the attorney general's office.
Balderas says investigators found there was $1.16 million in overbilling and regulatory violations but no evidence of fraud.
Martinez countered that she will never turn a blind-eye to CEOs who break the public's trust and funnel public money to family members or squander tax dollars.
UNM's Lactation Stations Held Up As Example For Colleges – KRQE-TV, Associated Press
The University of New Mexico has installed 21 "lactation stations" on campus for breastfeeding mothers, and the state's other universities may be following its lead.
KRQE-TV reports that the university also has a new lactation policy and a breastfeeding support group. Women on the campus say the lactation stations are a huge relief and prevent the need to breastfeed or pump in restrooms.
The New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force is impressed with UNM's lactation policy and wants to use it as an example for other colleges and universities in the state. The Task Force's workplace liaison, MJ Vargas, says the policy helps reduce the disparity for moms going back to school.
Central New Mexico Community College and New Mexico State University have also added lactation stations.
Huerta: No Ill Feelings With Rosario Dawson Over Sanders -
Russell Contreras, Associated Press
Civil rights activist Dolores Huerta says she holds no ill feelings toward actress Rosario Dawson over her "open letter" criticizing Huerta for supporting Hillary Clinton.
The co-founder of the United Farmer Workers told The Associated Press she respects Dawson and still considers her a friend but thinks Clinton will be more productive in protecting Latinos as president. Huerta says the letter divided Latino voters.
Dawson, who played Huerta in the movie "Cesar Chavez," is supporting Bernie Sanders. The actress of Puerto Rican and Cuban ancestry wrote last month that the Mexican-American leader is hurting her legacy by not helping elect the Vermont senator.
Dawson's letter drew criticism and support on social media from some Latino activists.
A publicist for Dawson did not immediately return an email.
New Mexico School Board Member Under Scrutiny For Conviction – Las Vegas Optic, Associated Press
A northern New Mexico school board member is under scrutiny after fellow board members were notified of a previously unknown 2002 felony drug conviction.
The Las Vegas Optics reports that supporters of West Las Vegas School Board member Anthony "Leroy" Benavidez are circulating a petition seeking a pardon for Benavidez.
Under state law, felons are not eligible to hold elective office unless they have secured a pardon.
The New Mexico Attorney General's Office currently is investigating the matter at the state Public Education Department's request.
A letter obtained by the Optic showed that board chairman David Romero was informed of Benavidez's conviction in December. Other board members weren't notified of the situation until early March, when the full board was contacted by the school district's attorneys.
APS Could Decide On Superintendent Tonight – Albuquerque Journal
The board of the state’s largest school district could decide Wednesday night about filling the superintendent position.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the Albuquerque Public Schools’ Board of Education will likely discuss the application from acting Superintendent Raquel Reedy, in closed session at its meeting.
She has filled the job since last August after the previous superintendent, Luis Valentino, stepped down. His deputy superintendent, Jason Martinez, did not undergo a criminal background check and a reporter found out Martinez was facing child sex assault charges in Colorado.
The board could offer Reedy the job, or it could conduct an open search for a candidate. Reedy has the support of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation.
Sotomayor To Lecture College Students In Santa Fe – Associated Press
Bronx-born Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is sharing her story with students at a private college in New Mexico that is dedicated to reading the great books of the Western canon and Eastern traditions.
Sotomayor is scheduled to speak Wednesday at St. John's College in Santa Fe.
The engagement includes an onstage discussion with St. John's President Mark Roosevelt and questions from the audience.
Sotomayor is a witness to how the high court operates with eight justices amid Republican efforts to delay the confirmation of federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland as a successor to deceased justice Anthony Scalia.
The jurist of Puerto Rican descent is providing signed copies of a recent memoir tracing her life from a Bronx housing project to the nation's highest court.
