>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> Nash: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HITS THE 100-DAY MARK, A CHECK IN WITH CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATES ON THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.

THEN, A FORMER DEMOCRATIC STATE OFFICIAL WEIGHS IN ON THE COST OF CUTTING FEDERAL SERVICES IN PURSUIT OF SAVINGS.

>> McCamley: THEY WANT THESE HUGE TAX CUTS FOR BILLIONAIRES.

AND YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT SOMEWHERE.

GOLD COINS DON'T COME OUT OF THE REAR ENDS OF UNICORNS AT THE END OF RAINBOWS.

THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS.

>> Nash: PLUS A NEW MEXICO IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY BREAKS DOWN THE FLURRY OF POLICY CHANGES IN WHAT RAIDS, DETENTION, AND DEPORTATIONS LOOK LIKE LOCALLY.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, AND TO A NEW ERA OF SORTS HERE ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

I'M NASH JONES, YOUR NEW HOST.

AS YOU KNOW, IN FOCUS HAS BEEN WITHOUT A PERMANENT HOST SINCE THE DEPARTURE OF GENE GRANT, SOMEONE I HAVE LONG RESPECTED AND ADMIRED JUST AS YOU DID, AND WHO HELPED MAKE THIS PROGRAM ESSENTIAL VIEWING FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES.

I WANT TO THANK HIM, ALONG WITH PRODUCERS JEFF PROCTOR AND LOU DiVIZIO AND FORMERLY LAURA PASKUS WHO DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB HELPING YOU WADE THROUGH THE NEWS EACH WEEK IN THE INTERIM WHICH HAS STRETCHED ON NEARLY TWO YEARS NOW.

I KNOW THIS IS A BIG CHANGE FOR YOU.

IT IS FOR ME TOO.

AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT TOGETHER.

AS YOU GET TO KNOW ME AND WE TRY OUT SOME NEW THINGS HERE ON THE SHOW, I HOPE I CAN BUILD YOUR TRUST.

YOU KNOW WHAT, THERE'S NO BETTER TIME TO DO THAT WORK THAN RIGHT NOW.

SO, LET'S GET INTO IT.

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, WE'RE GOING TO EXAMINE THE REVERBERATIONS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SECOND TERM IN NEW MEXICO.

WE HEAR FROM AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER ABOUT HOW NEW MEXICANS ARE EXPERIENCING TRUMP'S CRACKDOWN AT THE BORDER AND BEYOND.

ALSO, A FORMER DEMOCRATIC STATE LAWMAKER AND CABINET SECRETARY REFLECTS ON DOGE'S DOWNSIZING EFFORTS HERE.

BUT FIRST, I SIT DOWN WITH STAFF FROM EQUALITY NEW MEXICO, THE STATEWIDE LGBTQ ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION, AND THE LOCAL ACLU AFFILIATE.

TO HEAR ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF TRUMP 2.0 ON CIVIL LIBERTIES AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS SERVE.

I'M JOINED BY EQUALITY NEW MEXICO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARSHALL MARTINEZ.

WELCOME.

>> Martinez: THANK YOU.

>> Nash: AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUITY ATTORNEY FROM THE ACLU OF NEW MEXICO DEANNA WARREN.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BE HERE.

DEANNA, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

WE SPOKE WITH SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES FROM THE ACLU JUST AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

AND THEY WERE TELLING US ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE ANTICIPATING AS WE WERE PREPARING FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO RE-ENTER THE WHITE HOUSE.

HAVE THINGS TURNED OUT AS YOU ALL EXPECTED?

>> Warren: WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT I THINK WE ALL ANTICIPATED THAT POST-INAUGURATION THERE WOULD BE EXTREME SHIFTS.

I THINK THE RATE OF THOSE SHIFTS HAS BEEN THE MOST SURPRISING THING.

WE'RE SEEING IT- >> Nash: FASTER THAN YOU EXPECTED?

>> Warren: YES.

SO, THE WAY IN WHICH THEY'RE ENACTING ALL OF THE THINGS THEY PROMISED IN PROJECT 2025 HAS JUST BEEN SO MUCH MORE RAPID THAN WE COULD HAVE ANTICIPATED.

BUT THE FOCUS OF THEIR ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED.

IMMIGRATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND ATTACKS ON LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE ANTICIPATED AND THINGS WE'RE SEEING BEING REALIZED THROUGH THEIR POLICIES.

>> Nash: YOUR COLLEAGUE MARIA MARTINEZ SANCHEZ TOLD US SHE EXPECTED THE ACLU TO NEED TO SHIFT FROM BEING MORE PROACTIVE IN YOUR APPROACH TO REACTIVE.

HAS THAT BORNE OUT?

>> Warren: SO FAR, I THINK IT'S A MIXED BAG.

SO, I THINK ON A NATIONAL LEVEL THE ACLU HAS FILED 110 ACTIONS TO DATE IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.

SO, SOME PROACTIVE WORK THERE IN FILING LAWSUITS.

A LOT OF PRELIMINARY INJUNCTIONS AND THING LIKE THAT TO STOP THE ADMINISTRATION FROM DOING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ITS DOING.

AND I THINK ITS TERMS OF BEING REACTIVE OR DEFENSIVE, OUR WORK HAS REALLY FOCUSED ON PREPARING COMMUNITIES FOR WHAT'S COMING.

SO, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS THINGS.

AND REALLY WORKING WITH OUR CLOSE PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT WE ALL KNOW HOW TO PROTECT OURSELVES BECAUSE IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS GOING AFTER THE COMMUNITIES WE CARE ABOUT.

>> Nash: MARSHALL, WE'VE SEEN AN ONSLAUGHT OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS TARGETING THE TRANS COMMUNITY.

FROM DEFINING SEX AS EITHER MALE OR FEMALE AS DESIGNATED AT BIRTH, TO BANNING TRANS PEOPLE FROM SERVING IN THE MILITARY, GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN WHAT YOU ALL AT EQUALITY NEW MEXICO WERE EXPECTING?

>> Martinez: YEAH.

I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING.

JUST TO ECHO WHAT DEANNA HAS SAID, I DON'T THINK WE WERE EXPECTING ONE A DAY FOR THE FIRST TWO WEEKS.

BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT OUR COMMUNITY WAS PREPARED FOR.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT THE ENTIRE ELECTION SEASON LEADING UP TO THIS, LIKE, THIS ADMINISTRATION, THIS PRESIDENT AS A CANDIDATE, WAS SAYING VERY CLEARLY THESE WERE GOING TO BE THE PRIORITIES.

I THINK THE ONE THING THAT I FEEL LIKE IS IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS IN NEW MEXICO TO KNOW, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, AND SO MANY OF THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, IS THAT THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT OFTENTIMES ARE HAPPENING IN AN ABSTRACT WAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND TRANS PEOPLE EXISTED BEFORE ANY PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION ACKNOWLEDGED THEM, RECOGNIZED THEM, OR MADE SPACE FOR THEM IN THE ADMINISTRATION IN FEDERAL ENTITIES.

AND THEY STILL EXIST.

AND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER SAYING THAT ONLY MEN AND WOMEN EXIST AND THAT ASSIGNMENT FROM 30 SECONDS AFTER BIRTH LASTS FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIFE, THAT HASN'T ACTUALLY CHANGED WHETHER OR NOT TRANS PEOPLE EXIST.

THE FEAR, THE HARM, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE REAL AND ALSO POLICY DOES NOT ACTUALLY LEGISLATE IDENTITY FOR PEOPLE.

>> Nash: YOU TALKED A BIT ABOUT JUST HOW RAPID FIRE THESE HAVE BEEN COMING OUT.

WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE FELT CHALLENGED TO TRACK, TO RESPOND TO, JUST THE-- HOW FAST IT'S COMING?

>> Martinez: YEAH.

THIS IS WAS A REAL SHIFT FOR EQNM WHERE A 32-YEAR-OLD ORGANIZATION WHOSE FOCUSED ON STATE-BASED POLICY WORK FOR THE ENTIRETY OF OUR HISTORY.

I, AS AN INDIVIDUAL, CHOOSE NOT TO ENGAGE IN FEDERAL POLICY WORK FOR LOTS OF REASONS.

THE MOST IMMEDIATE SHIFT WE HAD TO MAKE WAS THAT IT BECAME SO CLEAR THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THE LUXURY TO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

AND EQUALITY NEW MEXICO, THE TRANSGENDER RESOURCE CENTER, ACLU, SO MANY OF OUR PARTNERS WERE CONSTANTLY TEXTING EACH OTHER SAYING, 'WHO IS GOING TO TAKE THE RESPONSE TO THIS ONE?'

THERE'S BEEN ANOTHER ONE IN THE LAST 20 MINUTES, WHO'S READ IT?

WHO IS READY TO RESPOND TO IT?

WHO'S THE RIGHT MESSENGER?

AND I KNOW WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS IN A LITTLE BIT, WE'RE SO FORTUNATE IN NEW MEXICO THAT THE MESSAGE AFTER EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE WAS SO FREQUENTLY, HEY, NEW MEXICO STATE POLICIES MEAN THAT THIS ISN'T GOING TO IMPACT YOU THE WAY YOU MIGHT BE THINKING BASED ON A HEADLINE.

>> Nash: AND WE WILL TAKE MORE ABOUT STATE POLICIES AND WHETHER THEY SERVE AS A PROTECTIVE MEASURE.

I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF ALL OF THESE FEDERAL CHANGES ON THE COMMUNITIES YOU SERVE.

DEANNA, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY?

>> Warren: YEAH, THE IMPACT HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT AS WE ANTICIPATED.

PARTICULARLY, ON OUR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

AS YOU KNOW, THE LARGE EXTENT OF WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE HAS REALLY FOCUSED ITS EFFORTS ON IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND FEAR MONGERING AND CREATING A SENSE THAT ENFORCEMENT IS AT EVERY CORNER.

SO, WE KNOW THAT AS A BORDER STATE WE HAVE EXTRA SCRUTINY.

WE'RE SURROUNDED BY A LOT OF STATES THAT ARE DOING THE ADMINISTRATION'S BIDDING IN TERMS OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

SO, WE'RE REALLY SEEING THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS.

>> Nash: WE ALSO KNOW THAT WITH DEMOCRATS LACKING NUMBERS IN CONGRESS, THE COURTS HAVE KIND OF EMERGED AS KEY PLAYER IN HOLDING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE.

KIND OF AN EFFECTIVE CHECK ON THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

HOW ARE YOU USING LEGAL CHALLENGES AS A TOOL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE ACLU?

>> Warren: YEAH, SO OUR TEAM OF ATTORNEYS HAS, LIKE I SAID, FILED A COUPLE OF CASES HERE LOCALLY IN FEDERAL COURT, AS WELL AS OUR NATIONAL ACLU FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN CONTINUALLY FILING ACTIONS AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE JUDICIARY, IN THEORY, SHOULD BE A CHECK ON EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A LITTLE BIT OF FEAR AROUND HOW DIFFERENT COURTS ARE GOING TO REACT TO THE TRUMP POLICIES.

I THINK OUR STATE COURTS MIGHT TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

AND OUR FEDERAL COURTS, AT VARIOUS LEVELS, RIGHT -- OUR DISTRICT, FEDERAL COURTS VERSUS THE SUPREME COURT.

ALL OF THOSE COURTS ARE INTERACTING DIFFERENTLY WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION.

AND THE ADMINISTRATION IS REACTING IN SOME SURPRISING WAY TO COURT ORDERS AND THAT GIVES EVERYONE A LOT OF PAUSE.

>> Nash: FOR FOLKS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR, WHAT IS SOME OF THE DIFFERENCE?

CAN YOU BROADLY DESCRIBE WHAT THE DIFFERENCE MIGHT BE BETWEEN THE COURTS?

>> Warren: YEAH.

LOCALLY, WE HAVE OUR STATE COURTS WHICH CAN HEAR, REALLY, ANY CHALLENGE ANY CASE.

FEDERAL COURTS HAVE TO SPECIFICALLY HEAR CASES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH FEDERAL LAW OR HAVE SOME FEDERAL ISSUE.

THAT MEANS OUR STATE COURTS REALLY CAN BE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THINGS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE SITUATION IN WHICH ANY FEDERAL COURT IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES IS ABLE TO ISSUE AN INJUNCTION, WHICH MEANS JUST STOP THE ADMINISTRATION FROM DOING SOMETHING.

AND THAT WILL HAVE THE IMPACT OF STOPPING THAT THING FROM COMING TO FRUITION IN ALL OF THE STATES.

SO, IT REALLY IS A GAME OF BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ALL OF THE COURTS.

>> Nash: THIS ISN'T ANYONE'S FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

MARSHALL, WHAT FEELS FAMILIAR FROM THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST TERM AND WHAT FEELS MARKEDLY DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND?

>> Martinez: YEAH, I WORKED FOR A DIFFERENT ENTITY AND WAS FOCUSED ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS AND JUSTICE WORK DURING THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

AND WHAT FEELS THE SAME IS THE NEW SHOCK IN THE NEWS CYCLE EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THE SORT OF WHACK A MOLE-- TRY TO SET UP A WHACK-A-WHOLE SITUATION IN WHICH PEOPLE WHO ARE RESISTING, TO USE THE WORD THAT SO MANY FOLKS HAVE HELD ON TO SINCE 2016, FEEL COMPELLED TO RESIST TO A NEW ACTION EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THIS FEELS VERY MUCH LIKE THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION IN THAT-- I THINK THAT'S BY DESIGN.

FLOOD THE ZONE IS WHAT WE'VE HEARD AS PART OF THE STRATEGY.

WHAT FEELS DIFFERENT IS THAT IN THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION IT WAS ABORTION ACCESS ONE DAY AND IT WAS MUSLIM FOLKS OUT OF AIRPORTS THE NEXT DAY.

SO, IT WAS A SCATTERSHOT AND IT FEELS LIKE THIS TIME IT'S CLEARLY ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND IT'S ABOUT TRANS PEOPLE.

AND IT GOES BACK TO BEING ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND EDUCATION AND IT'S ABOUT BACK TO BEING TRANS PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY.

SO, IT DOES FEEL A LITTLE MORE FOCUSED AND I THINK THE IMPACT OF THAT IS IT'S A LITTLE MORE HARMFUL TO THOSE COMMUNITIES IN SOME WAYS.

ONE OF THE-- I WON'T CALL IT A BENEFIT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION WAS THAT I THINK THAT FOLKS FELT LIKE THEY WERE ONE OF A DOZEN TARGETS.

TRANS FOLKS FELT TARGETED, BUT THEY WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES AND THEY KNEW THEY MIGHT GET A BREAK FOR FIVE OR SIX DAYS BECAUSE THE FOCUS WAS GOING TO BE ON SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> Nash: IT MAYBE FEELS A LITTLE HEAVIER?

>> Martinez: YEAH, I THINK IT WAS DISTRIBUTED MORE EVENLY IN THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION.

THIS TIME, IT'S SO INCREDIBLY CLEAR, IT'S IMMIGRANTS.

TO BE CLEAR, IT'S BROWN PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO SAY IT IS PEOPLE WITH BROWN SKIN IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

FRANKLY, WHETHER THEY'RE IMMIGRANTS OR NOT, THAT ARE FEELING THOSE ATTACKS.

AND IT IS TRANS FOLKS AND, YOU KNOW, AS A RESULT OF THE WAY OUR SOCIETY VIEWS LGBTQ PEOPLE, IT'S QUEER FOLKS TOO.

BECAUSE SO MANY FOLKS DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US.

ANY SORT OF VARIATION IN GENDER STEREO TYPE GETS YOU LOOPED INTO TRANSNESS.

THOSE TWO GROUPS OF FOLKS, QUEER AND TRANS FOLKS AND PEOPLE WITH BROWN SKIN ARE REALLY FEELING THE WEIGHT.

>> Nash: MARSHALL THANK YOU.

DEANNA.

WE'RE GOING TO PICK THIS CONVERSATION BACK UP IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES RIGHT HERE.

AND START TO LOOK MORE AT STATE POLICIES AND WHETHER THEY'RE DOING THE SERVICE OF PROTECTING NEW MEXICANS AMID THESE FEDERAL CHANGES.

THANK YOU.

>> Tavarez: MILITARY PRESENCE, NOT ONLY ALONG THE BORDER, BUT ALSO IN BORDER COMMUNITIES IS NOT GOING TO PROMOTE SAFETY.

IT'S GOING TO STOKE FEAR.

AND IT FEEDS INTO THIS RHETORIC THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE A THREAT TO THIS COUNTRY.

>> Nash: MY CONVERSATION WITH VALERIA GARCIA TAVAREZ FROM THE NEW MEXICO IMMIGRANT LAW CENTER IS COMING UP IN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES.

MANY OF NEW MEXICO'S STATE PROGRAMS, MORE SO THAN MOST OTHER STATES, RELY HEAVILY ON BOTH FEDERAL FUNDING AND STAFFING.

RECENT CUTS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, OR DOGE, ARE PUTTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MANY OF THOSE PROGRAMS IN JEOPARDY.

LAST WEEK, SENIOR PRODUCER LOU DiVIZIO SPOKE WITH RUIDOSO REPUBLICAN AND CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE STEVE JONES, WHO LIKENED THE ADMINISTRATION'S APPROACH TO REINING IN SPENDING, TO ATTEMPTING TO RID THE BODY OF AN ILLNESS AND LOPPING OFF LIMBS IN THE PROCESS.

THIS WEEK, LOU GETS THE PERSPECTIVE OF A NEW MEXICO DEMOCRAT WHO'S HAD FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE TRYING TO MAINTAIN VITAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES WHILE UNDERSTAFFED.

BILL MCCAMLEY LED THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

HE TELLS LOU THAT THE THE RECENT CUTS COULD HAVE THE SAME NEGATIVE IMPACT FOR NEW MEXICANS.

>> Lou: BILL MCCAMLEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

>> McCamley: YEAH, LOU, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> Lou: I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT RECENT ACTION FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, SPECIFICALLY CUTS.

I WANT TO START WITH RIGHT NOW.

YOU SERVED AS SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IN GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM'S FIRST TERM.

FROM WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE INNER WORKINGS OF THAT DEPARTMENT, HOW MIGHT THESE CUTS AFFECT IT AND THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND JOB TRAINING ALSO?

>> McCamley: LOU, SO, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY.

I WANT TO REALLY BRING UP THREE KIND OF DIRECT INFLUENCES ON THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE.

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOVERNMENT ACTIONS WE THINK IT'S JUST THIS ACADEMIC PROBLEM SOMEWHERE IN D.C.

THESE CUTS THAT ELON MUSK AND DONALD TRUMP ARE PUTTING INTO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE ABOUT YOU.

SPECIFICALLY PEOPLE LIVING HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

SO, LET ME JUST START WITH THE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT.

YOU MENTIONED UNEMPLOYMENT.

NOBODY LIKES BEING ON UNEMPLOYMENT.

EMPLOYERS DON'T LIKE PAYING INTO UNEMPLOYMENT.

IT'S NOT A PLEASANT THING TO HAVE, BUT IT'S SUPER NECESSARY.

SO, REMEMBER, IT WAS ACTUALLY STARTED IN THE '30s DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION WHEN WE HAD 25% UNEMPLOYMENT.

SO, UNEMPLOYMENT THE PROGRAM, IS A SAFETY NET FOR PEOPLE.

IF YOU LOSE YOUR JOB THROUGH NO FAULT OF YOUR OWN, IT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF HELP TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE TIME UNTIL YOU CAN GET THE NEXT JOB.

AND WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE AT THE FINANCE LEVEL THAT ARE SAYING WE MIGHT BE 60-70-- I JUST SAW ANOTHER GUY SAYING WE'RE AT 90% CHANCE OF GOING INTO A RECESSION BECAUSE OF TRUMP'S TARIFF TAXES, MOVING FORWARD.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S A REALLY GOOD CHANCE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO NEED THAT SERVICE.

AT THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, ROUGHLY 70% OF THE FUNDS THAT OPERATE THE PROGRAM COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE'RE TALKING THE PEOPLE THAT ANSWER THE PHONES.

WE'RE TALKING THE APPELLATE JUDGES.

SO, IF AN EMPLOYER OR WORKER DOESN'T LIKE THE DECISION ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT THEY CAN APPEAL UP THE CHAIN.

THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE, BY AND LARGE, FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO, IF CUTS HAPPEN, EITHER DIRECTLY TO THE FUNDS, OR TO THE PEOPLE THAT ADMINISTER THOSE FUNDS, IT MAKES IT HARDER AND HARDER FOR PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED THAT SERVICE TO BE ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE FOLKS AND GET ON UNEMPLOYMENT IF THEY, UNFORTUNATELY, LOSE THEIR GIG.

THERE'S TWO OTHER THINGS AT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT AS WELL.

ANOTHER LARGE THING THAT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DOES IS JOB TRAINING.

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS FOR SPECIFIC TRAINING THEY NEED FOR THEIR JOBS.

LOOK, AS WE MOVE INTO ECONOMIES WHICH REQUIRE MORE SPECIFIC TRAINING, THERE'S A BIG NEED OUT THERE FOR PLUMBERS.

THERE'S A BIG NEED FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

THERE'S A BIG NEED FOR COMPUTER TECHNICIANS FOR CYBER SECURITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

PEOPLE NEED MORE SPECIFIC TRAINING AND DOLLARS COMING IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HELP NEW MEXICANS GET THE TRAINING THEY NEED TO GET THOSE JOBS.

IF, ONCE AGAIN, THOSE DOLLARS GO AWAY, OR THE PEOPLE AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF GIVING THOSE DOLLARS GET CUT, IT BECOMES HARDER AND HARDER TO GET THOSE FUNDS TO GET THE TRAINING THAT NEW MEXICANS NEED.

THE THIRD THING IS MINIMUM WAGE ENFORCEMENT.

WE ALL KNOW HOW POPULAR THE MINIMUM WAGE IS.

IT'S A GOOD THING.

NEW MEXICO DID THE RIGHT THING UNDER THE GOVERNOR BACK IN 2019, RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE ABOVE THE NATIONAL LEVEL, BUT IF AN EMPLOYER DOESN'T PAY IT, WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?

WELL, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IS THE DEPARTMENT THAT'S IN CHARGE OF ENFORCING THAT.

I REMEMBER ONE TIME WE HAD THIS JERK RESTAURANT OWNER IN SANTA FE WHO WAS LITERALLY PAYING A DISABLED, MENTALLY DISABLED, EMPLOYEE LESS THAN THE MINIMUM WAGE.

HE WAS JUST LIKE I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT.

THE GUY WAS-- IT WAS REALLY BAD.

AND OUR TEAM WENT AND GOT ALL THE RECORDS.

THEY FOUND ALL THE STUFF AND WE WERE ABLE TO GO TO COURT AND REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT PAYING WORKERS WHAT THEY'RE LEGALLY ENTITLED TO BE PAID.

THOSE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES INTERNALLY OF THE KIND OF EFFECTS THAT COULD HAPPEN IF THESE CUTS CONTINUE.

AGAIN, 70% OF THE BUDGET FOR THAT DEPARTMENT CAME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I THINK, OVERALL, FOR NEW MEXICO, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 35% OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> Lou: YOU SERVED, NOTABLY, DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

HOW DOES THAT TIME COMPARE WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IN TERMS OF THE STRAINS ON SERVICES AND STAFFING AND WHAT THAT DID TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE PEOPLE THAT IT SERVED?

>> McCamley: WHAT HAPPENED DURING COVID WAS I THINK WE HAD 9800 PEOPLE ON UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE SECOND WEEK OF MARCH, 2020.

BY THE END OF JUNE, THAT WAS 153,000 PEOPLE.

YEAH, THAT 15-FOLD INCREASE IN A PROGRAM THAT WAS DESIGNED BACK IN THE 30s SO, IT WAS DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE GENERALLY W-2 EMPLOYEES, IN A JOB FOR OVER TWO YEARS, THAT ONLY HAD THE ONE JOB.

NOW, YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WORKING 1090 JOBS.

YOU'VE GOT UBER DRIVERS.

YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE MOVING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

WE HAD A LOT OF FILM WORKERS IN NEW MEXICO THAT WOULD MOVE ALL OVER THAT WERE EXPERIENCING ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM ITSELF IS FAIRLY COMPLICATED.

SO, YOU NEED PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO HELP APPLICANTS WORK THROUGH THOSE PROCESSES.

OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU HAVE LESS PEOPLE ON THE PROGRAM, LIKE I SAID, THE ECONOMY UNTIL TRUMP GOT ELECTED HAS BEEN GENERALLY, PRETTY GOOD FROM A WORKFORCE PERSPECTIVE.

SHOULD WAGES BE HIGHER?

SHOULD PRICES BE LOWER?

YES.

WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT.

PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY WORKING.

THE WORRY IS IF WE GO INTO A RECESSION AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO GET ON UNEMPLOYMENT, IF CUTS AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE CONTINUING ALONG THIS ELON MUSK PATH OF JUST WILLY-NILLY FIRE EVERYBODY BECAUSE HE HAS LITERALLY CALLED ANYONE ON ANY PUBLIC PROGRAM FEDERALLY A PARASITE.

SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICAID, MEDICARE, UNEMPLOYMENT, WHATEVER, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THIS, IT COMPOUNDS.

SO, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOUR VIEWERS SAW THIS, BUT LAST WEEK DONALD TRUMP DENIED FEMA AID TO ARKANSAS FOR A BUNCH OF TORNADOES THAT CAME IN AND MADE 250 PEOPLE HOMELESS IN ARKANSAS.

NEW MEXICO, I THINK, GOT $35 MILLION LAST YEAR IN FEDERAL AID FOR ALL THE WILDFIRES THAT WE HAD.

IF WE HAVE MORE FIRES THIS YEAR, AND WE APPLY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND TRUMP JUST SAYS YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN, WE'RE NOT HERE TO HELP YOU, THAT MAKES IT EVEN HARDER BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT IF THEY CAN'T GET HELP IN OTHER PLACES.

THESE THINGS COMPOUND OVER TIME.

AND THE HEARTLESS, CARELESS, CHAOTIC ACTIONS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ARE GOING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO WORK THROUGH ALL OF THESE TYPES OF ISSUES.

LAST THING, YOU JUST SAW LAST WEEK DONALD TRUMP AND RFK, JR. CUT INSPECTION OF MILK BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST FIRING EVERYBODY.

DO YOU DRINK MILK?

YOU WANT IT TO BE SAFE.

LAST MONTH, THEY GOT RID OF TWO COMMITTEES THAT DO CHICKEN INSPECTION FOR THINGS LIKE SALMONELLA.

SO, IF YOU GET SICK, AND YOU LOSE YOUR JOB, OR IF YOU GET SICK AND A BUNCH OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU GET SICK AND AN EMPLOYER CAN'T FIND WORKERS, THESE THINGS ALL COMPOUND.

SO, THESE JUST REALLY CHAOTIC, HEARTLESS CUTS ARE GOING TO HURT PEOPLE IN REAL TANGIBLE WAYS.

AND PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> Lou: I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THE SALMONELLA INSPECTIONS, THE MILK INSPECTIONS.

WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE THERE?

THERE HAS TO BE SOME BENEFIT FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OR SOMEBODY THAT THEY'RE ALIGNED WITH BY ELIMINATING THOSE.

>> McCamley: LOU, IT'S REALLY EASY.

IT'S TAX CUTS FOR BILLIONAIRES.

AGAIN, I USED TO SAY THIS ALL THE TIME WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE ON THE TAX COMMITTEE, GOLD COINS DO NOT COME OUT OF THE ENDS OF A UNICORN AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW.

IF YOU WANT SOMETHING, YOU GENERALLY HAVE TO CUT SOMETHING ELSE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT, FOR INSTANCE, THESE TARIFF TAXES, TRUMP JUST SAID IT YESTERDAY, HE WANTS TO GET RID OF THE INCOME TAX AND REPLACE IT WITH TARIFFS.

THAT IS A SALES TAX.

A TARIFF IS A SALES TAX ON REGULAR PEOPLE WHEN THEY HAVE TO GO BUY THINGS.

AND WHAT HE WANTS TO DO IS TAKE AWAY THE INCOME TAXES, WHICH CAN BE PROGRESSIVE.

YOU CAN SAY IF YOU MAKE A LITTLE MORE WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO PAY A LITTLE MORE.

IF I GO BUY A TV AND PAY A TAX ON IT, ELON MUSK AND BUYS A TV AND PAYS A TAX ON IT, IT HURTS ME WAY MORE THAN HIM BECAUSE HE'S A BILLIONAIRE.

SO, THESE REGRESSIVE, WHICH MEANS IT HURTS WORKING PEOPLE MORE, TAXES, WHICH IS WHAT TARIFFS ARE, THEY ARE A SALES TAX.

THEY WANT TO REPLACE THAT BY GIVING THESE TAX CUTS TO BILLIONAIRES THROUGH GETTING RID OF INCOME TAXES.

CARLSBAD CAVERNS HAS REPORTED MASSIVE LINES.

THEY FIRED 14 WORKERS AT THE NATIONAL PARK.

SO, PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO WANT TO GO TO PARKS AS MUCH BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT LONGER TO GET IN.

IT'S GOING TO BE LESS SAFE.

IF YOU GET LOST THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE AS MANY RANGERS TO FIND YOU AND YOUR KIDS IF YOU'RE OUT THERE.

THAT'S GOING TO HURT THE LOCAL ECONOMY AS WELL.

THESE THINGS ARE BASICALLY BEING DONE TO GIVE BILLIONAIRES TAX CUTS.

AND THAT'S NOT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY FOR REGULAR NEW MEXICANS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WHY THEY'RE DOING IT.

SO, AS THINGS COME AROUND FOR THE NEXT ELECTION, WE CAN MAKE BETTER CHOICES.

>> Lou: THE ADMINISTRATION, I MEAN, THEY'RE SHOWING WILLINGNESS TO MAKE CUTS BEYOND THE SPECIFIC TARGETS OF DOGE AND PROJECT 2025, AND EVEN MORE DRAMATIC IF STATE LEADERS FAIL TO FOLLOW SOME OF THE DEMANDS FROM THE PRESIDENT.

IN MAINE, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ALSO, IF THE GOVERNOR REFUSED TO RESTRICT TRANSGENDER GIRLS FROM COMPETING IN GIRLS SPORTS.

WE'RE A BLUE STATE WITH A PRETTY OUTSPOKEN GOVERNOR.

COULD NEW MEXICO BE AT RISK FOR SOME OF THE VINDICTIVE ACTIONS?

>> McCamley: LOOK, WE'RE ALL AT RISK.

AGAIN, ARKANSAS IS A RED STATE.

TWO-THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE IN ARKANSAS VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP.

THE GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS IS LITERALLY THE PERSON THAT USED TO TRANSLATE HIS STUFF TO THE PRESS.

HE WAS HIS PRESS SECRETARY.

AND HE STILL TOLD THEM TO F OFF.

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE.

WE'RE ALL OUT HERE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW WHEN WE OURSELVES MIGHT BE IN A POSITION THAT WE MIGHT NEED THIS STUFF.

WE HAD, LIKE I SAID DURING COVID, UNEMPLOYMENT WAS REALLY HARD.

IT WAS A TOUGH JOB.

I WAS IN A COMPUTER STORE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

JUST GETTING MY COMPUTER FIXED.

A GUY TOLD ME, I KNOW YOU TOOK A TON OF STUFF DURING COVID, BUT I GOT THAT AID.

WE REALLY BENEFITTED, MY FAMILY AND I, FROM BEING ABLE TO GET THROUGH THAT BECAUSE OF THE WORK YOU DID.

FIRST OF ALL, IT MADE ME FEEL A LOT BETTER BECAUSE IT WAS A TOUGH TIME PERSONALLY, TRYING TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THAT.

BUT THAT MATTERS TO PEOPLE.

SO, I'M NOT SAYING EVERY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM IS PERFECT, AND THERE IS CERTAINLY WASTE OUT THERE THAT CAN BE CUT.

JUST TAKING A CHAINSAW TO IT BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE THAT USE THESE PROGRAMS ARE BAD AND YOU CALL THEM PARASITES LIKE ELON MUSK HAS DONE, THAT'S NOT THE SOLUTION.

THAT'S GOING TO REALLY HURT PEOPLE.

ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE TO TAKE IT ALL TOGETHER.

YOU HAVE THESE INCREASED TARIFF TAXES THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE IT MORE LIKELY GO INTO RECESSION AND YOU CUT ALL OF THESE SAFETY NET PROGRAMS THAT WERE PUT IN THERE DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION WHEN THE ECONOMY WAS BAD BECAUSE THEY WANTED FOLKS TO HAVE THESE DOLLARS AND THESE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO HELP WHEN THEY NEEDED THEM.

DISASTER AID, ANOTHER REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE.

IF THAT STOPS HAPPENING, REAL PEOPLE GET HURT AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE ABOUT.

>> Lou: WHAT ABOUT AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL?

WE'VE SEEN DIFFERENT SCENARIOS PLAYING OUT AT TWO IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS.

COLUMBIA SHUT DOWN ITS MIDDLE EASTERN SOUTH ASIAN AND AFRICAN STUDIES DEPARTMENT AFTER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THREATENED TO WITHHOLD $400 MILLION FEDERAL DOLLARS.

HARVARD FACED SIMILAR THREATS.

THEY REFUSED TO COMPLY, SUING THE ADMINISTRATION.

HERE, UNM HAS REFUSED TO SHUT DOWN ITS DEI DEPARTMENT AND ITS INITIATIVES, BUT THEY DID REVOKE THEIR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION HIRING PLAN AS A RESULT OF THE TRUMP THREATS.

IS THERE A SERIOUS RISK TO THE STATE'S LARGEST UNIVERSITY THAT WE COULD FACE CUTS ALSO THERE?

>> McCamley: I'M REAL PROUD OF BOTH OF MY ALMA MATERS, BOTH NEW MEXICO STATE AND HARVARD, FOR BOTH CONTINUING SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS.

HARVARD'S GOTTEN ALL THE NEWS, BUT YOU'VE SEEN PLACES LIKE NMSU AND UNM, TO THEIR CREDIT, SAY THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE NEED TO DO HERE THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

TRUMP IS A BULLY.

HE'S A BULLY.

AND HE DOESN'T HAVE AS MUCH POWER AS PEOPLE THINK HE HAS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN SOME OF THESE PLACES CAPITULATED EARLY LIKE COLUMBIA, LIKE SOME OF THESE LAW FIRMS, IT JUST GIVES THEM MORE INCENTIVE TO TRY TO TAKE MORE.

SO, WHEN YOU SEE GROUPS START TO PUSH BACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, NO, THIS IS NOT WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.

THE STUFF THAT WE DO IS IMPORTANT.

THE VALUES THAT WE HAVE MEAN SOMETHING.

IF EVERYONE DOES THAT TOGETHER, THEN THAT'S WHEN YOU GET REAL POWER.

>> Lou: I WANT TO END ON A BROADER NOTE WITH YOU, BILL.

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT AN ELECTED OR APPOINTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ANYMORE, BUT YOU DID SPEND SOME TIME AND SOME YEARS AT THE LEGISLATURE BEFORE TAKING THE HELM AT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS.

FROM WHERE YOU'RE SITTING NOW, DO YOU FEEL LIKE NEW MEXICO DEMOCRATS ARE PROPERLY FOCUSED AND UNITED IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FOR OUR STATE INSTEAD OF WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS OFFERING?

>> McCamley: YEAH, I THINK NEW MEXICO IS IN A VERY INTERESTING POSITION BECAUSE OF THE LARGE FUNDS THAT NEW MEXICO HAS IN RESERVE.

LET'S SAY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST DECIDES WE'RE GOING TO START CUTTING MEDICAID.

AGAIN, EVEN SUSANA MARTINEZ A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, ACTUALLY TOOK THE EXPANDED OBAMACARE MEDICAID PROGRAMS BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE NEED IT.

AND THOSE PROGRAMS WORKED.

WHEN PEOPLE GOT ON MEDICAID, A LOT OF THE HEALTH DATA THAT CAME OUT SHOWED THAT PEOPLE WERE GETTING HELP EARLY AND IT WAS HELPING THEM STAY HEALTHIER AND NOT DIE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST PRO-LIFE THINGS YOU CAN DO.

CUTTING HEALTH CARE FUNDS FROM PEOPLE THAT DESPERATELY NEED IT, THAT'S NOT PRO-LIFE.

THAT'S PRO THE OTHER THING.

I KNOW THERE WAS DISCUSSIONS GOING ON AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.

I'M ACTUALLY PROUD OF A LOT OF FOLKS FOR THINKING ABOUT THIS AND SAYING, OKAY, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS WE'RE READY TO GO IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE USE SOME OF OUR DOLLARS TO CUSHION THIS FOR A WHILE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE DOLLARS EVEN ONLY GO SO FAR.

SO, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE PUSH BACK AS MUCH AS THEY CAN, NOT JUST IN NEW MEXICO, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SAY, YOU GUYS REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THAT'S HAPPENING, BY THE WAY.

YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE A LOT OF THIS PRESSURE REALLY EXERT ITSELF ON REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS.

THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, HEY, HEY, MEDICAID IS VERY, VERY POPULAR.

AND IF WE CUT MEDICAID TO FUND THESE BILLIONAIRE'S TAX CUTS, THAT'S GOING TO GO OVER LIKE A LED DAMN BALLOON.

SO, THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KEEP RAISING THEIR VOICES, KEEP GETTING ON THEIR MICS.

YEAH, TALK TO LOCAL FOLKS.

WE DO SEEM TO BE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS IN A VERY PRODUCTIVE MANNER, BUT ALSO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON THE FEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AS WELL.

>> Lou: BILL MCCAMLEY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING HERE ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

>> McCamley: LOU, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

GOOD LUCK, EVERYBODY.

KEEP YOUR HEADS UP OUT THERE.

>> Martinez: ALL THOSE PLACES AND TIMES WHERE AN APP, A WEBSITE, ASKS CAN WE COLLECT DATA AND THEY SAY IT'S TO MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE BETTER OR THEY SAY IT'S TO MAKE THEIR APP OR WEBSITE BETTER-- I THINK THE RESPONSE WE SHOULD HAVE IS THINK ABOUT WHAT INFORMATION THEY'RE COLLECTING ABOUT US AND IS IT SOMETHING THAT I DON'T CARE IF A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE KNOW.

>> Nash: THANKS TO LOU AND TO BILL MCCAMLEY.

YOU CAN WATCH THEIR ENTIRE CONVERSATION ON THE NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS YOUTUBE PAGE.

NEW MEXICO IS A BORDER STATE.

IT'S ALSO A BLUE STATE, UNLIKE OUR NEIGHBORS.

AND THAT PUTS US IN A PRETTY UNIQUE POSITION AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUSHES THE LIMITS OF PRESIDENTIAL AND MILITARY POWER IN ITS EFFORTS TO CRACK DOWN ON IMMIGRATION.

WITH A SEEMINGLY ENDLESS STREAM OF HEADLINES ABOUT EXECUTIVE ORDERS, HURRIED DEPORTATIONS, AND REVOKED VISAS, WE WANTED TO SIT DOWN WITH A LOCAL IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY THIS WEEK TO WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND WHERE THINGS STAND AND WHAT PEOPLE WITHOUT LEGAL STATING HERE IN NEW MEXICO HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH.

HERE'S MY CONVERSATION WITH VALERIA GARCIA TAVAREZ, SURVIVOR ADVANCEMENT SENIOR ATTORNEY AT THE NEW MEXICO IMMIGRANT LAW CENTER.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ELECTED ON A PROMISE OF MASS DEPORTATIONS.

ON DAY ONE, HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

HOW HAVE THINGS CHANGED FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION AND THE CLIENTS YOU SERVE IN HIS FIRST 100 DAYS?

>> Tavarez: YEAH, IT DEFINITELY HAS BEEN A VERY INTERESTING FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

IN TERMS OF OUR ORGANIZATION, AT LEAST FOR ME, I THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE KNEW WOULD MOST LIKELY HAPPEN BECAUSE WE SAW IT IN THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN SURPRISED BY.

IN TERMS OF WHAT WE COULD PREDICT WOULD HAPPEN, WE KNEW THAT ENFORCEMENT OF PRIORITIES WERE GOING TO RAMP UP.

WE KNEW THAT BORDER SECURITY AND ALL OF THAT SORT OF THING WAS GOING TO ALSO AMP UP.

WE KNEW THAT CERTAIN PROGRAMS LIKE TPS, PEARL, EVEN THE ASYLUM PROCESS WERE GOING TO BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.

AND WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A RE-SEVERING BETWEEN RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS AND DHS OFFICIALS.

A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHAT WE WEREN'T EXPECTING IS A LOT OF WHAT WE READ IN HEADLINES TODAY.

AT LEAST A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN VERY SURPRISED, FOR EXAMPLE, BY THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT THAT HAS NOT BEEN USED SINCE 9-11.

AND IT HADN'T BEEN USED BEFORE THEN SINCE WORLD WAR II.

>> Nash: CAN YOU BREAK THAT DOWN FOR VIEWERS THAT MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR?

>> Tavarez: ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S ESSENTIALLY A POLICY THAT HASN'T BEEN USED, LIKE I SAID, SINCE 9-11 THAT REQUIRES EVERY PERSON WHO ENTERED WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION TO FILL OUT A PRETTY EXTENSIVE REGISTRATION FORM ONLINE.

THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO REGISTER BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROCESSED AND FINGERPRINTED THROUGH OTHER MEANS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE YOUR ADDRESS HISTORY, WORK HISTORY, CONTACT INFORMATION AND TO SOME EXTENT SOME FAMILY INFORMATION AS WELL.

SO, THE REVIVING OF THAT POLICY CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A BIT OF A SURPRISE FOR US.

YEAH, WE'RE STILL LEARNING HOW TO NAVIGATE THAT AS WELL.

I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF UNPREDICTABLE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SO FAR.

BUT I THINK WE ARE DEEPLY ALARMED BY EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE DEPORTATIONS AND TO EL SALVADOR AND THIS-- YEAH, JUST ABSENCE OF DUE PROCESS FOR A LOT OF FOLKS.

>> Nash: I WANT TO GET INTO EVERYTHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND WATCHING.

FIRST, I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF FOLKS YOU'RE SERVING.

PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE IN NEW MEXICO WITHOUT LEGAL STATUS, WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE FOR THEM?

>> Tavarez: YEAH, WE'RE ALL SORT OF LEARNING THESE NEW CHANGES, READING THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AT THE SAME TIME.

SO, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OUR CLIENTS ARE DEFINITELY AMPLIFYING THE FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY THAT WE AS ADVOCATES ARE FEELING.

WE HAVE HAD A VERY SIGNIFICANT UPTICK IN CALLS TO OUR INTAKE LINE ASKING ABOUT CLARIFICATION, EXPLANATION ABOUT SUDDEN CHANGES ON ANY GIVEN DAY.

ASKING IF THESE NEW CHANGES WILL AFFECT OUR CLIENT'S CASES.

PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY-- ACTUALLY, EVEN INCLUDING LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS, CITIZENS, ASKING IF IT'S SAFE FOR THEM TO TRAVEL.

ASKING IF IT'S SAFE FOR THEM TO NOW APPLY FOR A FAMILY MEMBER'S IMMIGRATION APPLICATION.

SO THAT THE FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY IS VERY PALPABLE.

>> Nash: AND LIKELY ADDING TO THE CONFUSION, POTENTIALLY THE FEAR, IS HOW OPAQUE THE DEPORTATION PROCESS IS.

WE'VE HEARD STORIES OF PEOPLE BEING DETAINED HERE IN NEW MEXICO, SENT TO OTHER STATES, SENT TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND POTENTIALLY NOT EVEN THEIR HOME COUNTRY.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW DEPORTATION WORKS A LITTLE BIT BETTER?

>> Tavarez: YEAH.

IT'S CERTAINLY MORE COMPLICATED THAN THE WAY THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN PORTRAYING IT.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, TO BE REMOVED EXPEDITIOUSLY.

EITHER BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMIGRATION HISTORY OR BECAUSE OF THEIR CRIMINAL HISTORY.

WHERE, CERTAINLY, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO, YOU KNOW, PRESENT THEIR CASE IN FRONT OF AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> Nash: OKAY.

>> Tavarez: THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, HOWEVER, DO HAVE THAT DUE PROCESS PROTECTION.

WHERE IF THEY ARE, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION, HAVE INTERACTIONS WITH ICE, WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHETHER THEY'RE DETAINED OR NOT IS THEY'RE PROCESSED THROUGH THE IMMIGRATION COURT SYSTEM.

WHERE THE IMMIGRATION JUDGE DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE DEPORTABLE OR REMOVABLE.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING, UNFORTUNATELY, IS THAT IN A LOT OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ENTIRE PROCESS IS BEING BYPASSED ALTOGETHER, WITH PEOPLE EITHER BEING REMOVED RANDOMLY WITHOUT THEIR FAMILIES BEING NOTIFIED, LIKE A BIG GROUP OF PEOPLE WERE HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

OR, YOU KNOW, BEING TAKEN TO EITHER OTHER STATES OR DEPORTED TO THIRD COUNTRY PRISONS.

>> Nash: YOU TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

48 NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS WERE, BY SOME ACCOUNTS, DISAPPEARED OR UNACCOUNTED FOR AFTER BEING DETAINED FROM AN ICE RAID.

DO WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?

>> Tavarez: YEAH, OUR UNDERSTANDING, AND THE NEW YORKER PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, GIVING AS MUCH UPDATE AS WE HAVE AT THIS POINT.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT APPROXIMATELY 15 OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE UNITED STATES.

MY UNDERSTANDING ALSO IS THAT A HANDFUL ARE NOW AWAITING SOME KIND OF CRIMINAL PROCESS AND SOME FOLKS ARE WAITING THEIR IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS TO MOVE FORWARD.

I THINK WHAT TRULY MAKES THAT ENTIRE SITUATION ALARMING IS THE FACT THAT FOR DAYS ON END NOBODY KNEW THEIR NAMES.

NOBODY KNEW WHO THEIR FAMILIES WERE, HOW TO INFORM THEIR FAMILIES.

THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION.

AND THERE WERE LOT OF ALARM BELLS THAT WERE GOING OFF IN THE ADVOCACY COMMUNITY BECAUSE THIS IS VERY FAR FROM WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED TO EXPECT IN TERMS OF DEPORTATIONS.

>> Nash: WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EXPEDITIOUS REMOVAL VERSUS GOING INTO THE COURTS, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS FIRED A NUMBER OF IMMIGRATION JUDGES IN THIS FIRST 100 DAYS.

I BELIEVE AT LEAST EIGHT IN JUST THE LAST WEEK.

IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO SPEED UP THIS SLOWED DEPORTATION PROCESS, WHY GUM UP THE WORKS OF AN ALREADY BACKLOGGED SYSTEM IN IMMIGRATION COURTS?

>> Tavarez: YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE WEREN'T NECESSARILY EXPECTING FROM THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS TO SEE THE BEGINNINGS OF FIRING IMMIGRATION JUDGES.

THE IMMIGRATION COURT SYSTEM IS ALREADY VERY SIGNIFICANTLY DELAYED.

SO, WE'RE NOT SURE IF THAT MEANS THEY'RE BEGINNING TO THEN PUT PRESSURE ON CURRENT JUDGES TO MOVE THROUGH THEIR DOCKETS SO MUCH FASTER BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE GETTING OVERWHELMED WITH MORE-- WITH A HEAVIER CASE LOAD.

SO, YEAH, I THINK IT'S ALL JUST PART OF THE ATTEMPT TO MAKE AN ALREADY DIFFICULT PROCESS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.

>> Nash: DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IMMIGRATION COURTS ARE LOOKING LIKE IN NEW MEXICO, SPECIFICALLY?

>> Tavarez: SO, NEW MEXICO DOES NOT HAVE ITS OWN IMMIGRATION COURT.

IT KIND OF IS DIVIDED IN HALF.

SO, A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THE TOP HALF OF THE STATE WILL FEED INTO THE COLORADO IMMIGRATION COURT.

MOST OF NEW MEXICO FEEDS INTO THE EL PASO IMMIGRATION COURT.

THE EL PASO IMMIGRATION COURT HAS BEEN OVERWHELMED FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY.

SO, WE'RE ALREADY SEEING, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST ASYLUM CASES ARE BEING EXPEDITED AND DENIED MORE QUICKLY THAN WE USUALLY EXPECT.

PEOPLE ARE NOT GIVEN THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEMSELVES IN FRONT OF A JUDGE AND INSTEAD THEIR HEARINGS ARE BEING CANCELED AND THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO SUBMIT WRITTEN PLEADINGS.

SO, WE'RE ALREADY NOTICING THOSE CHANGES.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DETENTION SIDE OF THINGS.

NEW MEXICO'S HOME TO THREE ICE DETENTION CENTERS IN CIBOLA AND OTERO AND TORRANCE COUNTIES.

WHAT ARE THINGS LOOKING LIKE THERE?

>> Tavarez: YEAH, THE CONDITIONS AT THE DETENTION FACILITIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY BAD.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING, SINCE THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BEGAN, IS CERTAINLY AN OVERCROWDING ISSUE.

BUT WHEN YOU COUPLE THAT WITH AN UNDERSTAFFING ISSUE YOU, YOU END UP A VERY INTENSE PRESSURE ON FACILITY INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS DECREPIT TO BEGIN WITH.

SO, WE'RE SEEING ISSUES, FOR EXAMPLE, AT TORRANCE WITH SEWAGE LEAKAGE THAT LEADS TO SEWAGE SPILLAGE INSIDE THE SLEEPING PODS.

AND THE MEN ARE FORCED TO CLEAN UP THE MESS THEMSELVES.

WE'RE SEEING AN INATTENTION OF THE MEDICAL NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE BEING HELD THERE.

INCLUDING NOT PROVIDING MEDICATIONS FOR CRUCIAL CONDITIONS LIKE HIV, DIABETES, EPILEPSY.

WE'RE ALSO SEEING A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE WITH THE DELIVERY OF IMPORTANT IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS TO PEOPLE BEING HELD IN THESE DETENTION FACILITIES.

OUR ASYLUM AND DETENTION TEAM ENCOUNTERED A PERSON WHO DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE OF THEIR IMMIGRATION COURT HEARING UNTIL AFTER THE DATE HAD PASSED.

SO, THIS IS CAUSING SOME PRETTY NOTABLE DELAYS.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE'RE SEEING A VERY NOTABLE INCREASE IN ISSUES WITH LANGUAGE ACCESS BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING DETAINED.

THERE IS A MORE BROAD VARIETY OF LANGUAGES BEING SPOKEN BY THE PEOPLE BEING HELD AT THESE DETENTION FACILITIES.

TO THE POINT WHERE OUR ASYLUM TEAM SENT A LETTER TO THE CIBOLA COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY DEMANDING THAT THERE BE MORE LANGUAGE ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES.

WE'RE LEARNING THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO RELY ON EACH OTHER TO SOMETIMES TRANSLATE IMPORTANT LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND WHEN FOLKS ALREADY HAVE A LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, IT CAUSES SOME PRETTY GREAT CONCERNS.

>> Nash: YES, SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS.

NO DOUBT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BORDER.

PRESIDENT TRUMP TRANSFERRED FEDERAL LAND TO THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT.

THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED A NEW MEXICO NATIONAL DEFENSE AREA.

IS THAT AN APPROPRIATE USE OF THE MILITARY, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING LAWS ON THE BOOKS THAT PREVENT THE MILITARY FROM POLICING CIVILIANS?

>> Tavarez: YEAH, I THINK THAT EXACTLY SPEAKS TO THE GREATER ISSUE HERE.

I THINK THAT, FIRST OF ALL, MILITARY PRESENCE NOT ONLY ALONG THE BORDER BUT ALSO IN BORDER COMMUNITIES IS NOT GOING TO PROMOTE SAFETY.

IT'S GOING TO STOKE FEAR.

AND IT FEEDS INTO THIS RHETORIC THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE A THREAT TO THIS COUNTRY.

BUT TO YOUR POINT -- AND, ACTUALLY, THE ACLU OF NEW MEXICO PUBLISHED THIS REALLY INTERESTING ARTICLE THAT WILL DESCRIBE ALL OF THIS WAY MORE ELOQUENTLY THAN I COULD.

BUT I THINK THAT THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT THE MILITARIZATION OF OUR BORDERS AND THE ESSENTIAL-- ESSENTIALLY DEMANDING MILITARY OFFICERS TO ARREST AND DETAIN IMMIGRANTS CAUSES AN EROSION OF VERY DEEPLY-HELD PRINCIPLE ON THE CONSTITUTION THAT THE MILITARY IS NOT TO POLICE CIVILIANS.

>> Nash: FOR VIEWERS WHO AREN'T IN BORDER COMMUNITIES, AREN'T IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO, WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE IN THESE BORDER COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE?

>> Tavarez: YEAH, WE'RE CERTAINLY CONCERNED THAT-- EVEN IF WE TAKE THE IMMIGRATION PIECE OUT OF IT, WE'RE CONCERNED THIS EXPANSION OF THE NATIONAL-- I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY'RE CALLED.

THE NATIONAL SECURITY AREAS, OR THE MILITARY BUFFER ZONES, OPENS THE DOOR FOR PEOPLE WHO HAPPEN TO BE INADVERTENTLY DRIVING OR WALKING IN THOSE AREAS TO FACE FEDERAL TRESPASSING CHARGES.

SO, THIS DOES NOT PROMOTE ANY SORT OF SENSE OF SECURITY OR SAFETY AMONG OUR BORDER COMMUNITIES.

IT JUST-- YEAH, I'LL ALL IT DOES IS JUST SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE TO BE MET WITH FORCE BY THE MILITARY.

WHICH IS VERY UNFORTUNATE.

>> Nash: YOUR ORGANIZATION, OTHER IMMIGRANT RIGHTS GROUPS AND ADVOCATES, TO AN EXTENT THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, ARE WORKING TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN NEW MEXICO WHO DON'T HAVE LEGAL STATUS.

FOR VIEWERS WHO WANT TO SHOW UP FOR THIS COMMUNITY, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR HOW THEY CAN PLUG INTO THIS WORK?

>> Tavarez: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY LOT OF WAYS THAT FOLKS CAN STAY ENGAGED AND SUPPORTING THE IMMIGRATION COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, EVEN AT A LOCAL LEVEL.

ENGAGING IN DEFENSIVE-- IN DEFENSE PARTICIPATORY DEFENSE EFFORTS-- >> Nash: WHAT IS THAT?

>> Tavarez: ESSENTIALLY, BEING LOUD PUBLICLY IN SUPPORT OF FOLKS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH A CRIMINAL CASE, FOR EXAMPLE.

VOICING YOUR OPINION AND PUSHING LOCAL LEGISLATORS TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN SPECIFIC CASES IN THE COURTS.

THAT IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING MY COLLEAGUE SOPHIA GENOVESE SPOKE TO WHEN SHE INTERVIEWED WITH YOU Y'ALL BACK IN JANUARY.

SO, THAT'S A REALLY MAJOR WAY THAT FOLKS CAN GET INVOLVED.

OBVIOUSLY, BY DONATING RESOURCES OR TIME TO LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS.

EXCUSE ME.

OR TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IS VERY IMPACTFUL, ESPECIALLY AT A LOCAL LEVEL.

I THINK WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO HAS BEEN FIRM IN PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS IN OUR STATE.

THAT BEING SAID, THE STATE LEGISLATURE DID NOT PASS A LOT OF VERY IMPORTANT IMMIGRANT BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE ALSO PROMOTED PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE STATE.

SO, THERE'S CLEARLY A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF URGING OUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES TO TAKE A STAND AND TO PRIORITIZE THE PROTECTION OF OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS.

>> Nash: A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

VALERIA, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BREAKING THAT ALL DOWN.

>> Tavarez: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Nash: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REWATCH OR SHARE THAT CONVERSATION WITH OTHERS, YOU CAN FIND IT AT NPPBS.ORG AND ON THE NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

AHEAD OF PRESIDENT TRUMP TAKING OFFICE, I SPOKE WITH NEW MEXICO DEMOCRATIC HOUSE SPEAKER JAVIER MARTINEZ ABOUT HOW LAWMAKERS WOULD PREPARE FOR TRUMP'S RETURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

HE TOLD KUNM THAT NEW MEXICO HAD ALREADY DONE THE WORK TO BE TRUMP-PROOF.

IN A FOLLOW UP, GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM TOLD ME THAT WHILE SHE AGREED STATE LAWS WERE IN GOOD SHAPE TO DEFEND AGAINST TRUMP'S AGENDA BEING FULLY PROOFED MAY BE A BRIDGE TOO FAR.

AS WE RETURN TO OUR CONVERSATION WITH EQUALITY NEW MEXICO'S MARSHALL MARTINEZ AND ACLU'S DEANNA WARREN, WE DIVE INTO WHETHER STATE LAWS ARE PROTECTING NEW MEXICANS FROM FEDERAL CHANGES.

SO, WHILE TRUMP MADE INROADS WITH NEW MEXICO VOTERS IN THE ELECTION, THIS IS STILL A BLUE STATE.

WE STILL HAVE ALL DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATION, STATEWIDE REPRESENTATION.

WITH THAT SAID, TO WHAT EXTENT ARE SOME OF THE PROGRESSIVE POLICIES THAT NEW MEXICO PUT IN PLACE, LIKE PASSING THE CIVIL RIGHTS, OUR OWN STATE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.

PROTECTING ABORTION AND ACCESS TO GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE IN STATE LAW.

TO WHAT EXTENT ARE THOSE PROGRESSIVE STATE POLICIES PROTECTING NEW MEXICANS AGAINST THE FEDERAL CHANGES WE'RE SEEING, DEANNA?

>> Warren: SO, I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE CLEAR IS THAT WHILE IN NEW MEXICO WE FOLLOW STATE LAW, WE STILL HAVE OCCASIONALLY MORE RIGHTS THAN UNDER OUR FEDERAL CONSTITUTION WITH SOME OF THE LAWS THAT YOU REFERENCED.

BUT IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT THE FEDERAL LAWS DO IMPACT US.

I THINK EVERYONE HAS A LITTLE CONFUSION ABOUT EXACTLY HOW EXECUTIVE ORDERS WORK, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND THOSE DO HAVE SOME FORCE, BUT NOT TO THE SAME EXTENT AS A FEDERAL LAW OR A STATE LAW.

>> Nash: EXECUTIVE ORDERS ASIDE, IF A FEDERAL LAW CONFLICTS WITH A STATE LAW, DOES THE FEDERAL LAW ALWAYS TAKE PRECEDENCE?

WHAT CAN OUR VIEWERS EXPECT WHEN THAT CONFLICT ARISES?

>> Warren: YEAH, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

IT'S TRUE THAT WHEN FEDERAL AND STATE LAW CONFLICT THE FEDERAL LAW WINS.

IT SUPERSEDES OUR STATE LAW.

BUT ONLY IF IT CONFLICTS.

SO, WE HAVE MANY LAWS FOR WHICH THERE'S NO FEDERAL ANALOG.

SO, IN THAT CASE, AS WITH OUR REPRODUCTIVE ACCESS AND GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE ACCESS LAW, THERE IS NO FEDERAL ANALOG TO THAT, SO STATE LAW REALLY GOVERNS.

>> Nash: OKAY.

THERE ARE SOME PROTECTIONS THAT YOUR ORGANIZATIONS SEE AS LACKING IN STATE LAW.

JUST IN THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BOTH OF YOUR ORGANIZATIONS WERE ADVOCATING FOR PRIVACY PROTECTIONS.

SPECIFICALLY, AROUND DIGITAL DATA, HEALTH DATA.

THOSE PROPOSALS FAILED IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

MARSHALL, CAN YOU BREAK DOWN WHY THEY WERE NEEDED?

>> Martinez: ABSOLUTELY.

AS DEANNA SAID, WE HAVE STRONG PROTECTIONS RIGHT NOW FOR ACCESS TO GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE, ACCESS TO ABORTION.

OUR STATE, IN MANY WAYS, IS NOT ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAW IN THE WAY THAT OTHER STATES ARE.

AND WE HAVE TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT INTERNET ACCESS DATA, THE WAY THAT COMPANIES COLLECT AND USE IT, EXPANDS BEYOND STATE BORDERS.

AND IN NEW MEXICO WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT ARE WHAT WE CALL STATE BORDER FLUID.

I ALWAYS REFER TO LAS CRUCES AND EL PASO, TEXAS.

IF YOU LIVE IN LAS CRUCES, CHANCES ARE YOU SHOP, EAT AND VISIT FAMILY IN EL PASO, TEXAS.

IN EL PASO, IN TEXAS, HELPING A MINOR ACCESS GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE IS NOT ONLY AGAINST THE LAW IT'S CONSIDERED CHILD ABUSE.

SO, IN THIS WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN RIGHT NOW, THE PARENTS OF A TRANS KID ARE ON THE INTERNET, ON THEIR SMART PHONE, AND THE DATA BEING COLLECTED ABOUT THEM IS BEING PUT IN THIS PORTFOLIO IN THE CLOUD SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY'RE LABELED AS PARENTS AND AS MIDDLE CLASS AND ALL OF THESE THINGS.

AND THERE'S PROBABLY A TAG IN THAT PORTFOLIO THAT SAYS LIKELY PARENT OF A TRANS KID BECAUSE THEY RESEARCHED SUPPORT FOR TRANS KIDS.

WHEN THOSE FOLKS TRAVEL FROM LAS CRUCES INTO EL PASO, THEY'RE IN A STATE WHERE OUR PROTECTIONS FOR TRANS KIDS DON'T EXIST ANYMORE.

AND THAT DATA IS NOT PROTECTED IN ANY WAY.

AND THIS BECAME-- IT WAS AN ISSUE FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO, OUR ORGANIZATION WORKED ON IT IN A DIFFERENT SORT OF WAY OVER LAST YEAR, AND THEN I THINK MANY OF US JUST SAW THE INAUGURATION.

THIS PRESIDENT WAS SURROUNDED BY THE TECH BILLIONAIRES WHO CONTROL THAT DATA.

SO, IT IS NOT MUCH OF A LEAP FOR US TO ASSUME THAT DATA WILL THEN BE SHARED WITH TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT OR ARIZONA LAW ENFORCEMENT OR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, ENDANGERING THAT TRANS KID AND ENDANGERING THEIR PARENTS FOR DOING SOMETHING THAT IS LEGALLY PROTECTED IN NEW MEXICO WHILE THEY'RE IN NEW MEXICO, BUT THE INFORMATION HAS LEAKED OUTSIDE OF NEW MEXICO WHEN THEY CROSS THE BORDER.

>> Nash: THANKS FOR BREAKING THAT DOWN.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A LOT CLEARER FOR FOLKS WHY YOU ALL WERE ADVOCATING FOR THIS.

DEANNA, IT DIDN'T REACH A FLOOR VOTE, THE PROPOSAL, IT DIED IN COMMITTEE.

WHY WASN'T THERE MORE ENTHUSIASM IN THE ROUNDHOUSE ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL?

>> Warren: YEAH, I THINK, FIRSTLY, I THINK THERE WAS SOME ENTHUSIASM.

I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH A LOT OF LEGISLATORS, A LOT OF LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS, TO REALLY TELL PEOPLE WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT, WHY THIS IS CROSS-CUTTING, WHY THIS IS THE NEXT FRONTIER OF OUR ADVOCACY.

AND I THINK IN TERMS OF NOT MAKING IT TO A FLOOR VOTE, THERE'S A LOT OF LAYERS THERE.

BUT WE STILL BELIEVE THAT THIS IS POSSIBLE AND OUR WORK NOW IS ABOUT EDUCATING COMMUNITIES ABOUT WHAT DATA PRIVACY CAN LOOK LIKE AND WHY IT'S NECESSARY FOR ALL OF THE REASONS THAT MARSHALL MENTIONED, INCLUDING WE HAVE BIG TECH VERY ALIGNED WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION AND USING ALL OF THOSE DATA POINTS TO CREATE PROFILES ABOUT PEOPLE FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, FOR PROSECUTION, FOR PROTECTED HEALTH CARE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Nash: SO, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'LL PUSH FOR THIS AGAIN IN FUTURE SESSIONS?

>> Warren: YES.

WITHOUT STATE PROTECTIONS AROUND DATA PRIVACY, I GUESS I'M WONDERING WHAT OUR VIEWERS CAN DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

LIKE, DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS, MARSHALL, FOR A DIY DIGITAL PROTECTIONS?

>> Martinez: YEAH, I WISH IT WAS AS EASY AS JUST DOING IT AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

BUT I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

THERE ARE INTERNET SERVICES, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THERE ARE SERVICES ONLINE THAT WILL SCRUB YOUR DIGITAL PROFILE FROM THE PUBLIC.

AND WE'VE BEEN TELLING FOLKS THAT'S REALLY, REALLY CRITICAL.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU THINK YOU'RE BEING TARGETED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OR SOMEONE IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY OR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE GOTTEN SO USED TO THE IMMEDIATE PERMISSIONS FOR EVERY APP YOU SIGN UP FOR.

YOU SIGN UP FOR AMAZON, AND THE PERMISSION IS CAN WE KEEP YOUR DATA TO MAKE YOUR SHOPPING MORE CONVENIENT AND WE SAY YES.

>> Nash: IT'S LIKE, GET OUT OF MY WAY.

I HAVE SOMETHING TO DO.

>> Martinez: ABSOLUTELY.

EVEN SINCE I STARTED TO WORK ON THIS, I HAVE STARTED TO BE MUCH MORE THOUGHTFUL.

HOLD ON A SECOND, I CAN SEARCH FOR SHAMPOO BY USING THE SEARCH BAR.

I DON'T NEED YOU TO REMEMBER THAT I USE SHAMPOO AND REMIND ME IN THREE MONTHS THAT I MIGHT NEED IT, AS IT TURNS OUT.

I THINK IT'S JUST THINKING ABOUT ALL THOSE PLACES AND TIMES WHERE AN APP, A WEBSITE ASKS CAN WE COLLECT DATA.

AND THEY SAY IT'S TO MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE BETTER OR THEY SAY IT'S TO MAKE THEIR APP OR WEBSITE BETTER.

AND I THINK THE RESPONSE WE SHOULD HAVE IS JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT INFORMATION ARE THEY COLLECTING ABOUT US, AND IS IT SOMETHING THAT I DON'T CARE IF A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE KNOW.

>> Nash: THAT'S KIND OF AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL.

DEANNA, I'M WONDERING AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE-- OR AT LEAST NOT ONLY THE GOVERNMENT PROTECTING US.

WHAT CAN WE DO IN COMMUNITY TO HAVE EACH OTHER'S BACKS AND HELP PROTECT EACH OTHER?

>> Warren: I WOULD SAY THERE'S A HUGE COMMUNITY EDUCATION PIECE ABOUT HOW WE INTERACT WITH ONLINE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND APPS.

REALLY, AS A COMMUNITY, COME TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND WHERE OUR VULNERABILITIES ARE AND WHAT WE'RE REALLY BEING EXPOSED TO WHEN WE USE A FITNESS APP OR A MESSAGING APP THAT'S NOT ENCRYPTED.

SO, OUR ROLE AS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE TO CREATE THAT EDUCATION PIECE AND CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL CHANGES, BUT REALLY IT'S ABOUT FOLKS COMING TOGETHER AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST.

>> Nash: DEANNA, THANK YOU.

MARSHALL, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.

>> Martinez: THANKS SO MUCH.

>> Warren: THANK YOU.

>> Nash: THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS WEEK'S SHOW.

AND THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME AS YOUR NEW HOST.

CHEERS TO ONE EPISODE UNDER OUR BELTS.

HOPEFULLY, MANY MORE TO COME.

SINCE THIS WEEK MARKS MY CHANCE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF A BIT TO YOU, I WANT TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO LET YOU KNOW SOMETHING THAT FEELS IMPORTANT TO SHARE WITH YOU.

AND THAT IS THAT I'M TRANS.

BECOMING ONE OF FEW TRANSGENDER TV NEWS ANCHORS IN THE COUNTRY, I'M HUMBLED AND INCREDIBLY PROUD TO ADD TO MY COMMUNITY'S VISIBILITY IN THE NEWS MEDIA AND THE DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVES HERE AT PBS.

I USE THEY PRONOUNS.

SO WHEN YOU'RE TELLING SOMEONE YOU WATCHED MY FIRST SHOW, YOU MIGHT SAY THEY'RE THE NEW HOST OF NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

AND, HEY, IF THAT'S BRAND NEW FOR YOU, PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.

AND IF YOU NEVER KNOWINGLY MET A TRANS PERSON BEFORE, NOW YOU HAVE.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL GIVE ME A CHANCE TO BECOME NOT ONLY SOMEONE YOU KNOW, BUT SOMEONE YOU TRUST AND RELY ON.

I KNOW THAT THE NEWS CYCLE CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING FOR SOME OF YOU, OR MAYBE WORRISOME OR UPSETTING.

FOR THAT REASON, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO NOT LOOK AWAY, TO NOT DISENGAGE, BUT TO KEEP PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND YOU.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, STAY FOCUSED.

>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.