Otero County Commissioners invite President Trump to visit

Otero County Commissioners issued an invitation to President Donald Trump to visit Otero County.

The letter implores Trump to "come support our locally-elected county commissioners as well as our county sheriffs to show the people of New Mexico that you haven't forgotten about us."

"We will warmly welcome you, Mr. President, and be grateful for your attention and leadership in a state that is in crisis," the letter states.

The letter was signed by District 1 Commissioner Gerald Matherly, District 2 Commissioner Couy Griffin and Lori Bies, chairman and District 3 Commissioner.

"Our governor as well as our U.S. Representatives continue to maintain their political position that there is no crisis on the border," the invitation reads. "At the very best they will declare a humanitarian crisis without any regard to the illegal flow of narcotics flowing into our counties and our state."

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Commissioners issued the invitation amid calls to reopen closed checkpoints which they allege have allowed an increase in narcotics and crime in the county.

U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints in the El Paso Sector, which includes West Texas and all of New Mexico, were closed temporarily in late March as agents were reassigned to help process a growing number of immigrants claiming asylum at the border. The permanent highway checkpoints are part of the Border Patrol's immigration and smuggling enforcement system.

The letter state the closures are "of no concern to our governor and U.S. Representatives. The only concern our state and federal leadership have is how they can make the asylum seekers more comfortable, while our people continue to live in danger because of an unsecured border."

Letter about immigration 

A second letter was sent to federal law makers asking each to declare a "state of emergency."

It was addressed to U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, U.S. Rep. Debra Haaland, U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

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"The Board of County Commissioners of Otero County implores you to declare a state of emergency in regards to the immigration as well as narcotics crisis on the southern border," the letter states. "We see these threats as growing and continually threatening our constituents as well as county resources."

Other items discussed

• The commission approved a management/lease of the old Women's Club building at 1118 Indiana Avenue to Otero Arts, Inc out of Tularosa.
• A public hearing has been set for July 11 to repeal the county's Right-to-Work ordinance known as "An Ordinance Relating to Promotion of Economic Development and Commerce be Regulation of Certain Involuntary Payments Required by Employees in Otero County. The ordinance is up for repeal due to House Bill 85 rendering it obsolete. The public hearing has been scheduled for July 11 with a time and place to be determined.

More:Otero County adopts right-to-work law  

• The county is wanting to enact a Hemp Ordinance. A public hearing has been scheduled for July 11 with a time and place to be determined.   

More:Ultra Health Tularosa marijuana cultivation facility to be ready Jan. 1

•  The county commission approved of a resolution to join in the legal action over House Bill 407 which updates the state election laws. Twelfth Judicial District Attorney John Sugg filed a writ of mandamus in the state Supreme Court on June 10 about a provision of the law that changes some public officials' terms.

More:DA files writ against state over election changes

Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on twitter at @nicmaxreporter.