By Allen Weh
Chairman, Republican Party of New Mexico
The New Mexico Republican Party has chosen to challenge Mayor Martin Chávez’s recent change to policy that prevents police officers from determining the legal status of criminal suspects in all but the most serious of criminal acts.
Astonishingly, the mayor’s policy change occurred on the heels of the recent murders in Newark, N.J., that were carried out by two illegal immigrants who had had prior brushes with the law. In view of this nonsensical policy, Republicans have stood up on behalf of the public safety of this community.
In voicing opposition to Chávez’s dangerous precedent, we have sought to raise public awareness and concern. Our most recent initiative in this regard was to employ a mobile billboard in Albuquerque that said, “Welcome to Albuquerque! Mayor Chávez’s sanctuary city for criminal illegal aliens.”
As a result of these actions, it has been said by some that we are being “divisive,” the mayor said we are picking on people because of the “color of their skin,” and another said we should not be concerned about this until we fix our immigration laws in Congress.
Those were mean-spirited statements, and all were made to distort public perception. As pertains to the specific issue of identifying illegal immigrants who are criminal suspects or who have been stopped for breaking a law, none of those statements are valid.
First, it is important to understand that we are focused only on illegal immigrants who are criminal suspects and have not asked that police officers spend time and resources apprehending illegals who are not criminal suspects.
The handicap the mayor has now placed on our police officers (a concession he apparently made to appease a far-left “open borders” group that had filed a complaint against the city) has created a situation whereby a criminal incident will eventually be perpetrated by an illegal who will have been apprehended previously, which could have been prevented if that individual had been identified as illegal at that time and then turned over to ICE.
Secondly, let’s call race baiting what it really is: bigotry! Regrettably, bigotry seems to be alive and well among those who criticize us for insisting that our laws be enforced and common sense be applied in this situation.
President Bush made a serious effort toward a bipartisan solution to our immigration dilemma before it came to a grinding stop due to partisan bickering. As he does, I also favor a controlled guest worker program, and further favor finding a compassionate and equitable solution for the approximately 13 million illegal immigrants who have been working in this country for more than two years without committing any criminal acts.
We all should recognize that a lot of hard jobs in construction, agriculture and the oil industry are being done by many of these people that are crucial to our economy. Thus any knee-jerk reaction to resolve this issue without taking this into consideration is simply not in our collective best interests.
With that said, we absolutely have a right to make our borders secure and to expect our law enforcement agencies to identify the legal status of all criminal suspects (and if they are found to be illegal, to turn them over to federal authorities), while reasonable people work toward a pragmatic resolution to this complex issue.
What the public expects is for our law enforcement agencies to operate without any handicap in removing criminals and would-be criminals from our streets. The current overcrowding of our county jail, which has compelled us to consider moving overflow prisoners to Muleshoe, Texas, is indisputable evidence that we haven’t got spare jail cells in Albuquerque for New Mexico’s criminals, let alone criminal illegal immigrants.
We’d all be a lot safer if all criminal illegals were identified and deported promptly by ICE, rather than be allowed freedom to roam our streets without concern for apprehension or, if arrested, released on bail. (If they’re a criminal here, they are very likely a criminal in their home country, thus being returned and incarcerated there is far better than having New Mexico’s taxpayers pay for them.)
Frankly, I was disappointed but not surprised that Marty Chávez called me an idiot and then implied I was being racist. I must inform him that I’m neither, but that I do intend to hold him accountable for the consequences of his actions. The magnanimous and smart solution at this point for the mayor would be to admit he kicked the football in the stands on this one, rescind the policy, and fix the problem for the collective safety of all our citizens.
I can promise him two things in the interim. First, we’re not going to stop trying to get this dangerous policy changed. Second, should there be an assault on any of our citizens by an illegal immigrant who police had previously apprehended and could have identified and turned over to ICE, Marty Chávez’s political career is over. ¡Terminado!

Recipe below:

1 ½-2 pounds chicken breast, cut up
1 tbs canola oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
1-2 leeks, chopped
1 medium eggplant, cut into pieces
1 carrot, chopped
1 sweet red pepper, chopped
2 14 oz cans diced tomatoes, or fresh romas
1 small cauliflower, chopped
2 cups organic chicken broth
1 pound peas, or okra, or string beans
4 tsp curry powder
1 tsp garam masala
2 tsp minced ginger
2 tsp cilantro
¼ tsp saffron
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbs plain yogurt (optional)

Sautee garlic, onion, chicken and put in crock-pot. Add other ingredients and cook on low for eight hours or on high for five hours. Serve with basmati rice and chutney.

Early returns in governors’ and Senate races across the country show men and women who have spent their entire lives in the private sector making significant gains in their first runs for office…. A few common threads run through the campaigns: a message that sending the same people to Washington won’t produce different results and a significant outlay of personal money.

And, as recent polls will tell you, this trend has reached New Mexico as well.

Cindy Giambastiani, the ship’s sponsor, gave the order — “Officers and crew of the USS New Mexico, man our ship and bring her to life!” — and the crew ran into place along the top of the partially submerged submarine signaling that its seagoing days were at hand.

I am a life-long democrat who is now middle aged,  and I will be supporting Allen Weh in this governor’s race. Allen is an honest man who will not stop working until he fixes this state. As someone who is now unemployed and feeling the stress of this economic storm, I want a governor who can bring back jobs to this state and get New Mexico back on its feet.

We need someone who has experience as a business man and someone who is a leader by birth. That is why I will be supporting Col. Allen Weh.  He is a man who operates with courage, integrity and honor every day. America does not need more career politicians who only look out for their own interests. We need men and women who serve the states and do not make the states serve them.  Allen Weh is the only person in this race who will do what he promises: get New Mexico running again.

Ever since I first registered to vote, I have voted strictly Democrat. This is the first year I will be breaking that tradition and voting for a Republican: Allen Weh. After doing research and learning about this man, I was utterly amazed. From his college days to his days in Vietnam and the company he started from the ground, I can’t find one thing Allen has failed at.

He is a talented businessman with leadership under his belt and someone who operates with integrity and honor. He is by far the only person in this race, whether Republican or Democrat, who will be able to put New Mexico back together. He has my total support

Vidal Trujillo

I am a life-long Democrat who is supporting Allen Weh 100 percent. I’m not a person who votes party line. I vote on my morals and my beliefs. This year, I will be proud to cast my ballot for Col. Weh. He has proven that he is a man of integrity and courage — someone who will fight to the end to make New Mexico a brighter and better place for future generations.

Elias Sisneros