Brian Erickson from the ACLU Regional Center for Border Rights discusses DHS’s recent decision to reward embattled for-profit prison company CCA with a contract to convert the Cibola County prison into an immigrant detention center. And Angie Junck with California-based Immigrant Legal Resource Center discusses the TRUTH ACT, a law recently signed by Gov. Jerry Brown to regulate and bring transparency to local jail participation in ICE deportation programs.  

Steve Allen from the ACLU and Emily Kaltenbach from the Drug Policy Alliance discuss the state of criminal justice reform in New Mexico and the new statewide coalition NM SAFE that has emerged to promote fair, efficient and evidenced-based sentencing and public safety policies.

We talk to Maria de Anda Hay from the Santa Fe Food Policy Council discusses World Food Day and the urban agricultural ordinance pending before the Santa Fe City Council. We also talk to Shiu-Ming Cheer from the National Immigration Law Center discusses AB 2298, The Gang Databases Act, recent legislation signed in California providing adults with the right to be notified and to challenge their inclusion by police into the state’s gang database.  

For many years Enlace Comunitario has created a model for the rest of the state, and the country, for providing deep advocacy work and other crucial services to people in the Latinx immigrant community facing domestic violence. We talk to Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, Executive Director for Enlace Comunitario, about some of the issues our communities are facing but also what we they are doing to overcome them.

As New Mexico's Governor tries to bring back the death penalty to our state, Jim Lindburg, Legislative Director of Sacramento-based Friends Committee on Legislation of California, talks about California's recently passed AB2590, a legislative effort to promote public safety through smart rehabilitation and restorative justice programs.

Founders of the recently formed Institute of Legal Training & Instruction discuss their work to train immigrant families in New Mexico's rural communities to help each other navigate the complicated legal immigration system. Also, law student and DACA recipient Jazmin Irazoqui talks about her participation in the NM2MX initiative that sponsors undocumented youth on educational trips to their country of birth.

MALDEF, or the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, has deep ties to New Mexico and has played a critical role in helping to ensure the rights of Mexicanxs, Latinxs and immigrants in New Mexico are not being violated by this particular gubernatorial administration. This episode we talk to Thomas Saenz, MALDEF President & General Counsel, about some of that work and the upcoming election.

Almost 17 years ago Somos Un Pueblo Unido successfully fought off a segregated private prison aimed at the immigrant community in Santa Fe, today the Department of Justice announced it will soon phase out some federal contracts with private prison companies. We talk to Judy Green, researcher with New York-based Justice Strategies, who talks about this shift and shares the findings of her new report "Indefensible: A Decade of Mass Incarceration of Migrants Prosecuted for Crossing the Border.” 

Almost 17 years ago Somos Un Pueblo Unido successfully fought off a segregated private prison aimed at the immigrant community in Santa Fe, today the Department of Justice announced it will soon phase out some federal contracts with private prison companies. We talk to Judy Green, researcher with New York-based Justice Strategies, who talks about this shift and shares the findings of her new report "Indefensible: A Decade of Mass Incarceration of Migrants Prosecuted for Crossing the Border.” 

Today we talk to Amanda Garcia, ESL Literacy Coordinator, Steve Hill, tutor & Letty Lopez, student, from the Literacy Volunteers of Santa Fe about their programs which provide free tutoring to adults in reading, writing and speaking English to strengthen our community, families, and the workforce.

We spend the second half of our show talking to Ana Maria Samaniego and Roger Montoya, both artists about the Contemporary Hispanic Market and their love of art.

Half of US working families couldn't pay for a $400 emergency. Ona Porter, CEO of Prosperity Works, shares what her agency is doing to challenge New Mexico's dismal economic situation by building the capacity of local families to create financial reserves and assests.

New Mexico ranks FIFTH among states with the highest suicide rates. Marisol Peña, Xarin Escobedo, and Susan Hayre from the Sky Center's NM Suicide Intervention Project discuss what is being done locally, from free multi-lingual counseling services to school based prevention programs, to combat the serious problem of youth suicide.

We spend the second half of our show talking to Jorge Baron, Executive Director with the Northwest Immigrants' Right Project and Vicki Gaubeca, Director of the Regional Center for Border Rights about the public safety impact of DHS's impending rule that would allow immigration agents to serve as interpreters for local police.

We spend the first part of our show talking to Efren Olivares, Legal Director for the Texas Civil Rights Project, about a recent settlement over their lawsuit to stop the state of Texas from denying birth certificates to children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants.

We spend the second half of our show talking to Robert Gomez-Sanchez, Design Strategy Manager with Santa Fe Art and Design University who invites us to celebrate and reflect during the upcoming Immigration/Emigration Installation: An evening of ideas, art, creativity, food, and community this Friday, July 22 at 6:30 PM

We spend the first part of our show talking to Gail Evans, Legal Director at the NM Center on Law and Poverty who explains the latest NM Supreme Court ruling, prohibiting the exclusion of farm and ranch laborers from the protections of the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Act.

We spend the first half of the show talking to newly elected Santa Fe City Councilor Renee Villarreal about why she got into local politics and her vision to solve some of the challenges we are facing in our city. And in the second half we talk to Ivanna Hernadez, long time member and currently a summer intern with Somos about her experience with the Youth Employment Summer Institute, in addition to Marina Piña, Community Organizer in Southeast NM with Somos, about why Somosistas in 5 counties launched Viva el Voto, a voter registration and Get Out The Vote effort.

Jackie Munro, Community Outreach Specialist at La Familia Medical Center talks about a photography exhibition as part of their C.E.N.A. program. Also on the show, Luz Corrales and Norma Gallegos, patients of La Familia share a little bit of their involvement with the C.E.N.A. program.

Myra Llerenas, Southern New Mexico Field Director for Equality New Mexico, talks to us about the recent mass shooting that took place at an Orlando Gay Nightclub that took the lives of 49 mostly Latinx and Black LGBTQ people, how the horrific tragedy is impacting people in New Mexico and what we can do to support.

Amparo Guerrero, Education and Intervention Immigrant Specialist with Solace Center, talks about her work and how the Center works to prevent and eliminate sexual violence in our community, specifically sharing some of the specific challenges immigrants victims face.

Dr. Nancy López, Sociology professor and co-founder of the Institute for the Study of "Race" and Social Justice at UNM talks about her work and why the institute is important to a state like New Mexico.

Judge LaMar shares details about District Court Sponsored free Civil Legal fair that will be happening on June 3 from 10:00 – 1:00

Lupita and Juan talk about the work this network is embarking on to help current and future Latino business owners overcome the barrier they face to run a successful business.

Judy Contie, federal advocacy coordinator for the National Employment Law Project discusses new overtime regulations promulgated by the Obama administration.

David shares the work he  does with youth in Santa Fe & tells us details about the upcoming camp Global Youth Santa Fe.

Allegra talks about SF Dreamers Project Work all over NM, lending low cost or no cost legal services to “Dreamers,” so they can deepen their contributions to NM.

Mabel Arellanes, a daughter of Santa Fe and longtime Somos Activist talks about her experience as a young immigrant Dreamer, and the First undocumented student to go to law school and become an attorney in New Mexico.

LittleGlobe shares details about their upcoming production, City of Dreamers, Voices from the Southside, showing at the Lensic May 8th.

Brenda Barrazas and Brenda Bojorquez from the United Worker Center and the Lottaburger Worksite Committee discuss their efforts to end sexual harassment in their workplace.

Supreme Court and deferred deportation

Vicki Ganbeca, Executive Director of the ACLU’s Regional Center for Border Rights discusses a recent complaint filed against the DHS’s practice of deporting individuals without their personal belongings.

Isa Noyola, Director of Programs at the Oakland-based Transgender Law Center, discusses a recent report about Translatinos in the immigration detention system and the center’s advocacy work.

Patricio & Ramon share details on their newest theater production “Yo Soy Joaquin” presented by Siembra: Latino Theater Season @ the NM Hispanic cultural center this weekend.

Marisa Bono, from the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund discusses the current lawsuit against the NM Tax and Revenue Department for discriminating against immigrant taxpayers and stealing their refunds.

Professor Susan Eaton from Brandeis University discusses her newly published book, “Integration Nation: Immigrants, Refugees, and America at its Best.”

Rayos Burciaga and Elizabeth Lara from the United Center of NM and members of Somos’s Worker Center talk about the recent minimum wage increase in the city and county, and new worksite committees fighting wage theft in Santa Fe.

Gerry Bradley, Economist with New Mexico Voices for Children, discusses a recent report about paid sick leave and the state’s dismal track record on benefits in the Private Sector.

Monte del Sol school; mentoring programs

Edward Tabet-Cubero, Assistant Superintendent of Santa Fe Public Schools and Erica Stubbs from Presbyterian Medical Services discuss Santa Fe's early childhood education programs, challenges, and opportunities.

Omar Barbarena, member of Voices del Frontera, a statewide immigrant rights organization that originated in Wisconsin, describes their work to stop anti-immigrant Legislation advancing at their state legislature.

John Flax and Gonzalo Carreria from Theater Grottesco discuss upcoming performances of “The Translator” in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

Pugh Hispanic Research Center; jobs and skills of immigrants in New Mexico

Steve Allen with the ACLU updates us on legislation still moving through legislative process, like constitutional amendment to allow judges to deny bond to some criminal defendants.

Bill Jordan, Policy Advisor for New Mexico Voices For Children, tells us what’s at stake in this year’s budget negotiations at the Legislature.

Rikki-Lee Chavez, Legislative Coordinator for NM and Ben Baur, Deputy Chief of Public Defenders explains the unintended consequences of mandatory sentencing proposed being considered during this Legislative Session.

Patrick Barret, Youth Organizer with Southwest Organizing Project tells us why HB 29, a proposal to allow municipalities to adopt curfew for young adults is a bandaid solution and will result in racial profiling particularly among men of color.

Rep. Javier Martinez speaks about the legislative proposals on driver’s licenses.

Prof. Gabe Sanchez of Latino Decisions released scientific poll that shows 69% of NM voters support issuing Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants and 56% want a choice to acquire a Real ID compliant Drivers License.

Real ID Act

For more information about this episode, please contact us at info@ksfr.org

Eva Cárderas from the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights reports on the impact that President Obama’s raids are having on Central American Families and Children in Georgia