New Mexico’s immigrant community plays a crucial role in the state’s economy, making up 11 percent of the state’s labor force. Despite this, immigrants often face discrimination during U.S. elections, with some people blaming them for crime and immigration issues.
Jonathan Salazar, a research and policy analyst with New Mexico Voices for Children, says there are nearly 200,000 immigrants living in New Mexico. These individuals contribute not just as workers, but also as business owners, often running stores and providing jobs that help drive the state’s economy.
“Many of the businesses in New Mexico are immigrant-owned,” said Salazar. “It’s important to recognize the culture and vibrancy that immigrants bring to the state and to people’s everyday lives.”
Although non-citizens cannot vote in U.S. elections, the topic remains contentious. Recently, two Republican election officials in Georgia called out a social media video claiming Haitian migrants were voting, labeling it as fake news and “an obvious lie.”
In New Mexico, polls are open tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with same-day in-person registration available.
Immigrants, particularly from Mexico, make up a significant portion of New Mexico’s workforce. They account for 31 percent of college professors, over 20 percent of restaurant cooks, 15 percent of entrepreneurs, and 22 percent of the construction workforce. Many also work in the oil and gas industry, an important sector for the state’s economy.
Salazar explains that younger immigrant workers are vital for preventing labor shortages as older workers retire. “Many immigrants work in harsh conditions in the oil and gas industry, which generates revenue for the state and helps fund services like education,” he said.
New Mexico is the second-largest crude oil producer in the U.S., after Texas, contributing 14 percent of the nation’s total crude oil output. A study by New Mexico Voices for Children found that immigrant workers and business owners generate $12 billion in economic output for the state.
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