ALAMOSA — The Saguache County Immigrant Protection Team and Crestone/Baca Grande Indivisible held a town hall on immigration at Society Hall in Alamosa on Sunday, June 8. The event included speakers and a question-and-answer session. 

The meeting served numerous purposes. According to organizers, the primary goal was to convey to the immigrant community that their neighbors stand in solidarity with them. It will also provide factual information about immigrants to counteract the many myths in the media. Finally, a goal was to pressure elected officials to develop more humane approaches to immigration policy. About 45 people attended the event, including State Senator Cleave Simpson (R) and State Representative Matt Martinez (D). 

The speakers were Stephanie Izaguirre, an immigration lawyer with Izaguirre Law Firm; Gus Basterrechea with SLV Agricultural Coalition; Anita Rodriguez with Los Promotores del Valle San Luis Valley; Luis Murillo, assistant superintendent of Alamosa Public Schools, and Jeanine Ten Broeck, team lead with the Saguache County Immigration Protection Team. Saguache County resident Liza Marron moderated. 

During the town hall, Murillo said of the possibility of immigration raids by federal authorities, "Our kids have to battle hunger, they have to battle poverty, they have to battle whatever is going on at home...they have to overcome all of those things to be able to learn so they have a choice after graduation. This has caused another layer for our students and for our community members to work through." Murillo added, "As an immigrant myself, who has benefited from the American dream and the pathway to legal citizenship, I say our communities are resilient. Unfortunately, this is not new." 

"I am more worried about the everyday fear of what could happen to our neighbors, their little classmates who are hearing the messaging on social media and TV that could one day turn to, 'You are not like me anymore, so we can't play together,' said Murillo." 

Volunteers accepted donations for the San Luis Valley Immigrant Resource Center during the meeting. The mission of the center is to connect and empower immigrants with resources to achieve legal documentation, fulfill their economic needs, and integrate into the community. 

The center is a safe place for people to come and address immigration-related questions and needs. It provides services in an area where no other aid is available. IRC's services are non-governmental, confidential, and minimum fee-based. 

A recording of the town hall will be available at www.youtube.com/@IndivisibleCrestone-BacaGrande.