NMWF Letter to Governor Martinez Opposing Border Wall

March 1, 2017The Honorable Susana MartinezGovernor of New Mexico490 Old Santa Fe TrailRoom 400Santa Fe, NM 87501Dear Governor Martinez,As faith, conservation, and community leaders from New Mexico, we respectfully ask that you act in the best interest of New Mexicans to oppose the construction of President Trump's proposed border wall on our state's 179 miles of land bordering Mexico.Mexico is our state's largest trading partner, representing more than $1.68 billion in goods and services exchanged annually. International trade, including exports and imports, support more than 217,000 New Mexico jobs - that’s one in five. As you know, success in the export market is critical to diversifying our state's economy. The volatility of global energy markets has had a profound effect on New Mexico's families and economy, most recently leading to a $69 million state budget shortfall and a projected deficit of $250 million in 2018.By opposing this border wall, and instead promoting a political, financial, and economic climate where trade with Mexico is valued and encouraged, New Mexico can grow its burgeoning international trade sector in areas such as Santa Teresa and Columbus. The Mexican import tariffs proposed by the Trump administration to force Mexico to finance the construction of this wall would have a profound impact on the ability of our state to grow this international trade sector and create new, sustainable jobs. A recent study by WalletHub indicates that New Mexico would be the fourth state most economically impacted by a trade war with Mexico, a reality that New Mexican families simply cannot afford.Additionally, New Mexico benefits from vast, open areas on its southern border that are yet to be developed for industrial, light manufacturing, storage, warehouse, and logistics businesses. These businesses are being actively recruited by publicly and privately funded economic development organizations because of the potential growth opportunities that our border represents - a competitive advantage over other border states. Trump's proposed border wall could also severely hamper initiatives to build a planned bi-national railway that would bring additional economic opportunities and jobs to our state and southern border and complement Union Pacific's $400 million rail facility just built in Santa Teresa.New Mexico shares a rich bi-national culture with Mexico dating back centuries. In Columbus, for example, during the Bi-National Cavalry Trail Remembrance Day, riders on horseback from both countries come together and cross the border in a sign of friendship and remembrance of the Punitive Expedition, an event widely advertised by the New Mexico Department of Tourism. For at least a decade, the City of Sunland Park, neighbor to Anapra, Mexico, has sought to build an international pedestrian crossing to increase visitation from Mexican tourists and to facilitate visitation between families who live on both sides of the border. Each year, the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Las Cruces and El Paso host a joint pilgrimage at Mount Cristo Rey, a symbolic mountain that straddles the New Mexico, Mexico, and Texas borders, in a show of cultural and spiritual unity. Across from Antelope Wells, New Mexico, planners from the state of Chihuahua are nearing the final stages of completing a bi-national road to connect our two countries and spur new economic development opportunities and further strengthen the ties between New Mexico and the States of Chihuahua and Sonora. In Doña Ana County, the Mexican national flag is emblazoned in the plaza of the Town of Mesilla, a tribute to the Doña Ana Bend Colony, the Mexican land grant colony that paved the way for the modern-day Mesilla Valley.Building a border wall in New Mexico to divide our two nations would undermine centuries of shared history between our two countries that brings New Mexicans pride, a sense of identity, and tourism opportunities.Life on our border extends beyond human habitation and a shared culture. In the vast Chihuahuan Desert and Coronado National Forest, thousands of diverse wildlife species thrive and migrate across our shared border for survival. The heart of one of the the largest and most ecologically diverse wildlife corridors in all of the Americas exists at the center of the wall’s proposed construction site. The southern end of the Rocky Mountains, the northern end of the Sierra Madres and the edges of both the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts all intersect on New Mexico’s border. Regional native species, including desert bighorn sheep, Sonoran pronghorn, Coues deer, jaguar to myriad game and songbirds and non-game mammals and reptiles depend upon the unwalled border corridor for their survival. These species migrate across the different existing international barriers in search of food, mates, sources of water, and to ensure the survival of their species. Beyond our shared responsibility to co-habitate with wildlife, these species also serve critical needs to the people of New Mexico, including the sustainability of our food supply, economic development through hunting, wildlife watching, and other recreation opportunities, and also help ensure we keep our desert and forest ecosystems in conditions that mitigate the impact of flash flooding and forest fires. Additionally, the Mexican government has stated its opposition to the border wall on many grounds, including the negative impacts on shared ecosystems and wildlife corridors along the border that both countries mutually manage.The construction of such a wall on New Mexico's border would have devastating impacts on our economy, our shared bi-national culture, and our environment and wildlife. New Mexico is a land of inclusivity - not a place that turns people away and turns its back on its shared culture. In the best interest of the people of New Mexico, we ask that you do everything within your power, including stopping the exchange of New Mexicans’ state land, to oppose the border wall proposed by President Trump’s Administration within the boundaries of the State of New Mexico.With gratitude,Rev. Andrew BlackFirst Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe, NMSr. Joan Brown, OSFExecutive DirectorNew Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, Albuquerque, NMRobert WoodruffPastorSecond Presbyterian ChurchAlbuquerque, NMPam Fraser-WaltersPresidentNew Mexico Interfaith DialogueAlbuquerque, NMNancy RiceClerk of Hospitality CommitteeReligious Society of FriendsAlbuquerque, NMAshley ZappeYouth Group LeaderHoly Trinity Orthodox Parish, Santa Fe, NMSylvia Miller-MutiaRectorSt. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church, Albuquerque, NMDonnel Miller-MutiaBereavement CounselorHospice Compassus, Albuquerque, NMBlaine WimberlyPastorZia United Methodist Church, Santa Fe, NMRev. Elizabeth McMaster (ret.)Albuquerque, NMSeth FinchPastorPresbyterian Church (USA)Albuquerque, NMRabbi Paul J. CitrinTaos Jewish Center, Taos, NMRev. Dr.Nancy HittConsulting MinisterUnitarian Universalist Westside Congregation, Rio Rancho, NMRev. Sue JoinerSenior Minister1st Congregational United Church of Christ, Albuquerque, NMRev. Talitha ArnoldSenior MinisterThe United Church of Santa FeJoel P. GarnerAbbotSanta Maria de la Vid AbbeyAlbuquerque, NMRev. Robert Aubrey (ret.)CCSW, New Mexico and TexasRev. James BrownPresbyterian Church (USA), Santa Fe, NMDeacon Lynn Anner-Bolieu (ret.)Episcopal Church of Navajoland (ECUSA)Deacon Lynn Anner-Bolieu (ret.)Episcopal Church of Navajoland  (ECUSA)Rev. Pamela ShepherdTaos, NMRev. Karen BashChurch of the Good Shepherd UCCAlbuquerque, NMRev. Allan BashChurch of the Good Shepherd UCCAlbuquerque, NMRev. Warren J Broussard, S.J.Immaculate Conception ChurchAlbuquerque, NMMary Jo LundyPresbyterian ElderSanta Fe, NMThe Rev. Rhonda McIntire (ret.)Episcopal PriestAlbuquerque, NMDonald ConklinPastoral Associate (ret.)Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary ChurchAlbuquerque, NMGeorge MuedekingMission ElderMennonite Church, Albuquerque, NMRabbi Neil AmswychTemple Beth Shalom, Santa Fe, NMKarin Granberg-MichaelsonRetired Hospital Chaplain Santa Fe, NMCarol Edling JollyAssociate Minister for Pastoral CareUnited Church of Santa Fe UIBarbara GabioudChair, Board of DirectorsUnitarian Universalist Fellowship of Silver CityRev. Virginia BairbyFirst Presbyterian Church of TaosMichael ButtramOutreach and Youth MinistryUnited Church of Santa FeRev. James M. CollieParish AssociateLa Mesa Presbyterian ChurchAlbuquerque, NMFather Gene FriesNorbertine Community Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey, Albuquerque, NMRev. Sylvia-Miller MutiaSt. Thomas of CanterburyAlbuquerque, NMRev. Vincent ChavezSt. Therese School and ParishAlbuquerque, NMRev. Anita AmstutzOrdained Mennonite MinisterAlbuquerque, NMMarlene PerrotteSister of MercyAlbuquerque, NMGarrett VeneKlasenExecutive DirectorNew Mexico Wildlife FederationAlbuquerque, NMGabe VasquezCo-FounderNuestra Tierra Conservation ProjectLas Cruces, NMFernando ClementePresidentFriends of the Organ-Mountains Desert Peaks, Las Cruces, NMMichael CasausNew Mexico State DirectorThe Wilderness SocietyAlbuquerque, NMAllyson SiwikExecutive DirectorGila Resources Information ProjectSilver City, NMM.H. Dutch SalmonChairmanGila Conservation Coalition, Silver City, NMMark AllisonExecutive DirectorNew Mexico Wilderness AllianceAlbuquerque, NMDiana HadleyPresidentNorthern Jaguar ProjectHidalgo County, NMNathan ReesTrout UnlimitedNew Mexico & ArizonaJohn HorningExecutive DirectorWildEarth Guardians (NM)Cathy BaileySecretary and Chair of Governance CommitteeWildEarth Guardians, Santa Fe, NMTeresa SeamsterChair, Northern New Mexico GroupSierra Club, Santa Fe, NMDavid CossChair, Rio Grande ChapterSierra Club, Santa Fe, NMSusan OstlieLeaderRio Grande Valley Broadband of the Great Old Broads for WildernessAlbuquerque, NMLinda StarrCo-LeaderRio Grande Valley Broadband of the Great Old Broads for WildernessAlbuquerque, NMOscar SimpsonState Chair/Legislative ChairNew Mexico Sportsmen/Backcountry Horsemen of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NMGuy DicharryCo-Founder/Attorney at LawWildlife Conservation Advocacy Southwest, Inc. (WCASW)Los Lunas, NMThomas StewartPresidentNative Plant Society of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NMJeff SwansonPresident/Retired Military ChaplainSouthern New Mexico Public Lands AllianceAlamogordo, NMDonna SwansonMember and Retired EducatorSouthern New Mexico Public Lands Alliance & Otero County Public Land Use CouncilAlamogordo, NMMichael RobinsonConservation AdvocateCenter for Biological DiversitySilver City, NMBryan BirdSouthwest Program DirectorDefenders of Wildlife, Santa Fe, NMJulie WeinsteinVice President and Executive DirectorAudubon New MexicoSanta Fe, New MexicoJavier PereaMayorCity of Sunland ParkGregory Z. SmithMayor Pro TemCity of Las CrucesGill SorgCity CouncilorDistrict 5, City of Las CrucesAngelica RubioNew Mexico State RepresentativeDistrict 35, Las Cruces, NMJoanne FerraryNew Mexico State RepresentativeDistrict 37, Las Cruces, NMBill McCamleyNew Mexico State RepresentativeDistrict 33, Mesilla Park, NMJavier MartinezNew Mexico State RepresentativeDistrict 11, Albuquerque, NMJohn Vasquez County CommissionerDistrict 5, Doña Ana County, NMBilly G. GarrettCounty CommissionerDistrict 1, Doña Ana County, NMEric RodriguezTreasurerDoña Ana County, NMRenee VillarrealCity of Santa Fe City CouncilorDistrict 1, Santa Fe, NMRay JaramilloBoard MemberDistrict 1, Las Cruces Public SchoolsMaria A. FloresBoard Member, PresidentDistrict 3, Las Cruces Public SchoolsMary CarterExecutive DirectorWomen’s Intercultural CenterAnthony, NMCharles GoodmacherGovernment RelationsNational Education Association (NM)Sarah SilvaExecutive Director NM CAFe, Las Cruces, NMDr. Ernest Flores, MDLas Cruces, NMJutta StonawskiTeacher of the GiftedGallup-McKinley County SchoolsGallup, NMFelipe GonzalezProfessorUniversity of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NMKathryn WichelnsAssistant Professor of English University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NMMia Sosa-ProvencioAssistant ProfessorUniversity of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NMAdrian TellesTeacherAlbuquerque Public SchoolsDon ZancanellaEmeritus ProfessorUniversity of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NMOrlando Carrillo-JiménezFormer Colonias Infrastructure Board MemberLa Mesa, NMJuliette Cunico, Ph.DUNMVC Department of EnglishAlbuquerque, NMOlivia Provencio-JohnsonAdministrative CoordinatorInternational Community Health ServicesDan OlsonExecutive DirectorSan Juan Citizens AllianceD.W. HadleyPart OwnerGuadalupe RanchHidalgo County, NMCarrie HamblenCEO/PresidentLas Cruces Green Chamber of CommerceClaudia BiancaOwner of RETTaos, NMDenise ChávezDirector, Author and BooksellerCasa Camino Real Bookstore & Art GalleryLas Cruces, NMAngel PeñaCo-OwnerOut Back A’Horse BackRadium Springs, NMMollie McGraw, Esq.Las Cruces, NMKenneth J. FerroneExecutive DirectorCatholic Charities of Southern New Mexico, Las Cruces, NMCC: U.S. Senator Tom Udall (NM)U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (NM)U.S. Representative Steve Pearce (NM)U.S. Representative Ben Ray Lujan (NM)U.S. Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM)City of Las Cruces City Council