Immigrant families and advocacy groups marched at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe on Monday as a part of what was called the Immigrant and Workers Day of Action.
Organizers said 1,300 people gathered from around the state to rally for stronger protections for immigrants. It was a morning full of speeches, live music and chants.
Ytzel Cano drove five hours from Las Cruces to join the protest. She鈥檚 a citizen, but said she has been harassed by Border Patrol
鈥淚'm a citizen, so it's not about who is documented or not, it's just hate,鈥� she said.
She said being at the protest gives her hope and strength.
鈥淚 mean, there's so much fear that's intentional to spread to our communities,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd you know, the fact that we're here, we're fearless and we're never gonna give up, just speaks to how powerful our immigrant communities are.鈥�
Jessica Martinez is an attorney with the . She said it鈥檚 important for people to know their rights, something her organization has been working to educate people about.
鈥淏eing equipped with that knowledge so that they don't have that fear, so that they know what they can and cannot, you know, do as a community to protect themselves,鈥� she said.
The rally was organized by her group and others, including Somos Acci贸n, the ACLU, and Santa Fe Dreamers Project.
鈥淐ollective power is what changes things,鈥� said Martinez. 鈥淧assing these laws to ensure that our community is protected against law enforcement鈥檚 collaboration with ICE to ensure that's really what public safety is about, is protecting our community.鈥�
Rep. Tara Lujan (D-Santa Fe) spoke at the rally and said the legislature is working on bills to provide protections.
鈥淥ur families are being persecuted and tormented and torn apart under the Trump administration. It is monstrous,鈥� she said.
One bill would make to people regardless of legal status. Another would amend laws prohibiting disclosure of sensitive personal information by state employees to .
However, there鈥檚 a Senate bill to require state and local governments to cooperate with . And the Senate Republican Caucus on Friday for sharing information about violent people without legal status here. It can also be used to report any, quote 鈥渋nstances of unfounded action by federal officials.鈥�
Cano said President Trump should be ashamed of taking advantage of people.
鈥淭here's many people who are disappointed in what they thought he was going to do,鈥� she said.
New Mexico went for Kamala Harris in the election, but Trump gained support in nearly all counties.
Support from the coverage comes from the Thornburg Foundation.
