In part two of KRWG’s In Focus interview with Roman Jimenez, Chairman of the Doña Ana County Republican Party, Mr. Jimenez shares his thoughts on immigration enforcement, The North American Free Trade Agreement, and shares his perspective on why Republicans lost control of the New Mexico House of Representatives in the 2016 election.
Last month, the Associated Press broke a story about a draft memo showing that the Trump Administration discussed using 100,000 National Guard Troops to enforce immigration in Border States and across the country. In the AP story, The White House said it had “no plan to do what was potentially suggested” in the memo. On In Focus, Roman Jimenez shared that when it comes to using National Guard troops to enforce immigration it depends on how that mission is defined.
“Right now, and for a long time, not just the past 8 years through the Obama Administration, but previous to that administration, National Guardsmen have always been an integral part in providing support to local law enforcement in combating the war on drug trafficking, secure borders, resources for the enforcement of local law enforcement,” says Jimenez.
President Donald Trump’s criticism of the North American Free Trade Agreement is no secret. The President has wants to renegotiate NAFTA or leave the deal, which may have an impact on border trade in New Mexico.
Jimenez says locally NAFTA has been an integral part of the success of the Sunland Park, Santa Teresa Area. However, he also says from a national perspective he understands Trump’s reasoning about open trade and what he says are bad deals the United States is getting.
“I understand that perspective, but at the same time I understand that open trade has been a big part of New Mexico’s economy, and stimulating that economy,” says Jimenez.
Jimenez says from a county perspective, he wants to know what can be done so that border trade can continue to improve the local economy no matter what agreement is in place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge0BYQUokDQ&spfreload=10
In the 2016 election, New Mexico Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives to Democrats after controlling it for two years. Jimenez says what went wrong was that the Republicans elected didn’t do anything when it came to the economy and creating a better opportunities for the next generation.
“We put people in there that we thought would help turn our economy around, that would help to create a better environment for our children to grow up in and be educated in, and that didn’t happen,” said Jimenez.
Jimenez says regardless of party, the state has problems when it comes to whom New Mexico elects to office.
“We continue to put people in office with their own best interest in mind,” says Jimenez.
