This op-ed was originally published in the El Paso Times.. New Mexicos legalization of cannabis for recreational adult use has reminded all borderland residents As for those driving back from Colorado, New Mexico State Police say they havent planned a crackdown in response to Colorados law. You have no check points at all on No.s 1 and 3. Hope there are no checkpoints on Carlsbad-Pecos-Fort Stockton-Austin route. These are some of the bigger towns and cities that are still close to Thanks so much for your inputs everyone. Looks like I just cant miss Carlsbad then! Hope there are no checkpoints on Carlsbad-Pecos-Fort Stockton-A I have an inherent problem being asked the country of my citizenship by an agent of the Federal government when it is at an internal checkpoint. Low 43F. Mayely says she experienced two such incidents: First, it was officers in blue uniforms near Veracruz, then, a second time, near Mexico City, where she said it was immigration agents. He believes these people are drug smugglers. Never seen a checkpoints north of Las Cruces. What is our immigration policy? said Shara Whitehead. We were stopped at two check points operated by Border Patrol in the Big Bend Region. Brennan Linsley/The Associated Press, Puebloan Dylan Aragon cheers after being the first resident to purchase recreational marijuana at Marisol Theraputics shortly after 8 a.m. Wendesday, Jan. 1, 2014 in Pueblo West, Colo. Delaware State Police officers have set up checkpoints near state borders (but not on Interstate highways) because, as a no-sales-tax state, residents of nearby Maryland and Pennsylvania like to shop there. But they are stopping drivers with license tags from other states. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-40237215', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Las Cruces frequently go to Juarez to party. John Wark/The Associated Press. Up in the mountains, a few hours east of Yuma, men with AR-15s patrol the brush. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. Although a state senator, Jerry Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque, has announced he plans to introduce a proposed constitutional amendment in the upcoming session that would let voters decide whether pot should be legal, dont expect New Mexico to follow Colorados lead anytime soon. Although out-of-state residents may only purchase a quarter of an ounce of cannabis at a time in Colorado, theres nothing to prevent a tourist in Pueblo from buying a quarter-ounce from The Greener Side and then driving over to Marisol and buying a second quarter-ounce. Yes, I meant 285 and then 54 to White Sands. He says his deputies are doing more highway interdictions to search vehicles, but they can't compensate for the loss of the federal inspection station. The New Mexico Department of Health reported 301 new cases of the virus in the state on Friday, for a total of 14,549, with six additional deaths related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. John Burnett/NPR Low 43F. Thank you for signing in! Thats because the checkpoints, which Customs and Border Protection can operate up to 100 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, have become a troubling barrier to New Mexicos legal cannabis industry, threatening the states legalization equity goals and potentially limiting the ability of residents near the border to tap into the lucrative, growing The migrants themselves describe acts of kindness along the route. What is the alternate route to it? A migrant walks along the U.S.-Mexico border wall after crossing into the United States from Mexico near Yuma, Ariz. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. Camping in Northern New Mexico- Best Places?? Were extremely excited about that and grateful," he said, clarifying that he was not speaking for the rest of the county commission. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-40236488', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Albuquerque, on a Friday or Saturday night, you can expect that there will be several DWI checkpoints throughout the city. Couy Griffin, chairman of the Otero County Board of Commissioners, stands at the Border Patrol's abandoned U.S. Route 70 checkpoint in New Mexico. Want to know which town in Colorado is closest to New Mexico? Southern New Mexico community leaders have expressed safety concerns over the checkpoint closures in recent months. So the Otero commissioners all Trump supporters asked the Democratic governor to redeploy National Guard to the checkpoints to stand in for overtaxed border officers. Lose the crowds and enjoy spectacular outdoor activities with these top 14 things to do. And, there are Border Patrol checkpoints east of (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Invalid password or account does not exist. Thanks for the tip. EVERYONE has to stop at all three checkpoints. We always just say "HI" to Border Patrol agents, and they wave us through. The most common allegation shes heard involves extortion: Police officers will stop migrants at a checkpoint, demand money, and, if people dont pay, theyre turned over for deportation. Please advise the best way to plan the NM trip. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88176599', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Albuquerque so that I can take 280 from Santa Fe and then 54 to White sands. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. The Border Patrol checkpoints have been shutdown in the El Paso Sector as agents have been diverted to deal with an influx of immigrants. Unlimited access to the Taos News website for 30 days. This wasn't an interstate, of course, but I know it happens in other areas, as well. Southbound traffic isn't stopped. The officers, he said, took everything they had: about $1,000 US, and dropped them on the highway about two kilometres from the border. In the heart of Paraguay's capital Asuncion, a tropical city close to the Argentine border, voters are gearing up for election day on Sunday, with the economy, corruption and Taiwan on their minds. The one checking cars going West bound on IH 10 is after you enter New Mexico. The state also announced the cancellation of fall "contact" sports this week. In both cases, she said, they had face coverings with just their eyes showing. The Taos News mailed to your New Mexico state residence everyweek for a full year! She said she begged the driver before getting off: Please dont leave without us. "I think that the level of scrutiny is harmless and can be really beneficial," Stewart said. The checkpoints do face scrutiny from civil liberty groups, who claim agents routinely violate constitutional rights. Although Washington state voters approved a similar ballot initiative in 2012, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, Colorado is the first jurisdiction in the world to establish a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol.. Migrants gather around a campfire at sunrise on the outskirts of Yuma, Ariz., where theyve just crossed a dry riverbed to set foot on U.S. soil. Contact Steve Terrell at sterrell@sfnewmexican.com. Customs and Border Protection has closed all six checkpoints in the El Paso Sector, which covers West Texas and New Mexico. "These are not traffic checkpoints. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. All of it.. If you do the route #2 route do not do I-25 to US 70,as there is a Border Patrol check-point just before White Sands on US70 in the Eastbound direction. The checkpoints are federal facilities set up decades DO purchase up to one-quarter of an ounce of marijuana if you are 21 or older, but only from a licensed retail marijuana store. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundup.com. The countrys former interior minister did acknowledge two years ago at a news conference that many migrants have been harassed, beaten and raped by officers. A public sign off the main road warns: Travel Caution: Smuggling and Illegal Immigration May Be Encountered In This Area., Foley brings home his cameras memory cards and, using a mouse, scans the video: Coyote, rain, deer, cow. The Taos County Sheriff's Office operated checkpoints at the Colorado border on Friday (July 10) to both check drivers for intoxication and inform them about New Mexico's public health orders related to the pandemic. He says informants are now telling him that Mexican traffickers know if they can get their product across the Rio Grande the border with Mexico they have a free ride north. I am thinking of just skipping (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This is a one-time purchase. You have permission to edit this article. No checkpoints. You may cancel at anytime. The Taos News mailed to your out of state residence everyweek for 13 weeks! the Colorado and New Mexico border. The same applies at dozens of permanent Border Patrol highway checkpoints inside border states. Contests and special offers from The Santa Fe New Mexican and advertising partners. Towns in Colorado are Very routine, if you have nothing to hide. They scour walking trails in search of illegal border-crossers. They took off my shirt, they lifted up my bra, touched my breasts, took off my underwear, took off my pants, she said. Lucas Peerman can be reached at 575-541-5446, lpeerman@lcsun-news.com or @LittleGuyInATie on Twitter. The Taos News mailed to your New Mexico state residence every week for 13 weeks! The Colombian mother said, after her assault and robbery, a Mexican bus driver hugged her. To qualify for asylum, applicants have to prove they meet a key condition: fear of being harmed or persecuted for membership in a certain group. Michelle Lujan Grisham amended an emergency public health order to effectively close state parks to all out-of-state visitors, who are still required to self quarantine for 14 days upon arrival unless traveling on "essential" business. West to east, Colorados border with New Mexico starts out fairly straight. They dont care if you have enough to eat or not. An employee of a third store, Pueblo West Organics, said last week that sales likely will start there in a couple of weeks.. $2.4 million HGTV Smart Home sweepstakes in Santa Fe this year, Bye bye, Tucker: Now turn down the outrage, Former N.M. governor opened doors for minorities, Hernndez murder suspect escapes after police chase, Santa Fe County weighs tougher nuisance ordinance to address problem properties, Judge rejects man's suit to get unemployment benefits, Santa Fe police report eight crashes in late April snowfall. Stories of freshly suffered trauma spill forth from migrants as they arrive at a dusty encampment along the U.S.-Mexico border. Is there a checkpoint coming from Colorado to Las Cruces? A Colombian shop owner said he was robbed farther north. You may cancel at anytime. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. Upvote 1 Downvote. Border Patrol did not clarify if there are plans to reopen the permanent checkpoint on I-25. The Taos News mailed to your New Mexico state residence every week for 13 weeks! United States, An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. water parks and other entertainment in Albq/Santa Fe? We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Since Oct. 1, checkpoint agents have discovered 7 tons of marijuana and nearly a ton and a half of meth inside vehicles, according to CBP's own statistics. Albuquerque, New Mexico - 2407. The most common allegation shes heard involves extortion: Police officers will stop migrants at a checkpoint, demand money, and, if people dont pay, theyre turned over for deportation. Mayely used buses, footpaths, a truck, and even a raft in Guatemala in a two-week journey from South America. Couy Griffin, theOtero County Commission chairman, said the reopening of the checkpoints was "great news.". Deputies seemed to have stumbled upon a trafficking crossroads in the northeastern part of New Mexico that sits 100 miles southeast of Trinidad, Colo., and 10 miles from the Texas line. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Near the end of the session, two Senate committees voted in favor of a measure sponsored by Ortiz y Pino that called for the state Economic Development Department to convene a group to study the possible impacts of legalizing and taxing marijuana in New Mexico. Otero County, N.M., is so alarmed by the possibility of illegal narcotics flowing north unchecked that it has declared a local state of emergency. These are bad guys.. Cookie Notice They took all our money. The evening of Dec 25th is not the night that the farolitos are out, that is Christmas Eve. Youd better check with the management first, but some hotels and motels will allow you to smoke marijuana in your room, said Mason Tvert, the Denver-based spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project. It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. As Cruzincouple said, only #2 would affect you. On that one, you could take US 380 off I-25. Then south on US 54 to Alamogordo. You have no check p Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Hogrefe said his office will be operating another checkpoint on Thursday (April 9), this time, on the county's southern border. There are DWI Checkpoints occasionally and I wish there were more! Otero County officials are not the only ones complaining. One of those stories is corroborated by a companion of his, Hugo. The regional hospital in Yuma is demanding federal compensation for the $20 million it says its spent on care for undocumented migrants. Create a password that only you will remember. Medical marijuana patients just a day earlier paid as little as $25 for the same amount., However, the Wall Street Journal predicted last week that prices might decline before long. Hogrefe did add that the overall number of car collisions in the county has gone down, as sign that drivers in Taos County are being more selective about when and for what reason they're choosing to hit the road. Colorado began retail marijuana sales on New Years Day. Carlsbad- there is nothing else like them. There will be lights all over the Plaza area, but not much going on. The vigilantes themselves say theyve intercepted shipments. These places are very close to the state line between Colorado and New Mexico but they may be smaller towns. Taos County Sheriff's Office sees over 800 out-of-state vehicles at checkpoints, Health department announces new phase of COVID data reporting. Which of the following routes will encounter the checkpoints -, 1. 1-866-220-6045. Most people wont even get stopped The state had seen a total of 865 cases, with 17 deaths tied to the virus. I got grandkids in the schools. Only bad guys come to your back window and sneak in. To buy pot in Colorado, you must have valid identification. You may cancel at anytime. You may cancel at anytime. Normally, if you drive from Las Cruces to Alamogordo, N.M., on U.S. Route 70, you have to pull into a federal inspection station. ", Alleged Leader Of Border Militia Facing Federal Firearms Charges In New Mexico, 1,600% increase over the same time period last year, N.M. I mean, the highway's wide open. The root issue is a historic phenomenon a global migration wave unlike anything seen since the Second World War, with record numbers heading toward the U.S. and either claiming asylum or being caught entering. RJ McKenzie November 15, 2015. Actually, mnd85871, this isn't illegal in Texas and happens often if you are driving in and around Big Bend National Park or down to Brownsville and South Padre. People who dont wanna get caught [come this way], he said. "The National Guard cannot do immigration work. Subscribe today. The six permanent checkpoints in the El Paso Sector include: U.S. Highway 62/180 about 30 miles east of El Paso in Hudspeth County I-10 West - located 22 miles Why arent people that have been in Congress for 50 years fixing that?. But they should be aware that the Colorado law comes with some restrictions. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS In years of doing this work, Foley said hes never been shot at. for 182 days, $58.46 You may cancel at anytime. Had a couple ounces of weed and some shrooms in the car. You can scroll down to find A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. blue on the map and those in New Mexico are orange. We spent over a month driving around Arizona and New Mexico and never had the pleasure of a random stop. I told them to have a heart the kids havent eaten lunch and they need to eat something. It is up to us.. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Hampton Inn & Suites Los Alamos White Rock. In addition, you'll receive access for a full year to all content on TaosNews.com, including the e-edition digital replica, and a weekly digest of what's happening in arts and entertainment in Taos! Earlier this year, Gov. You may cancel at anytime. WebUpvote 1 Downvote. Mexicos top immigration official and several facility staff face criminal charges. We don't have either of those.". Thanks so much for your inputs everyone. Hes a high-school wrestling coach and volunteer who brings food to migrants at the border encampment. WebParts of what would become Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming were also included in what would be called the Mexican Cession. WebAnd, there are Border Patrol checkpoints east of Las Cruces on Hwy 70, north of Las Cruces on I-25, and west of Las Cruces on I-10. Michelle Lujan Grisham withdrew 118 National Guard troops from New Mexico's southern boundary, calling President Trump's policies a "charade of border fear-mongering.". Carla was urgently seeking advice on immigrating to Canada. hide caption. We won't share it with anyone else. Often, the border is a barely discernible line in uninhabited deserts, canyons, or mountains. Checkpoints elsewhere along the Southern border are operating normally. Agents ask occupants their citizenship status. Its a daily ritual at spots like this along the border. This is what it's like to go through one. Most asylum applications get rejected in the U.S. Cases can last years. On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. High 74F. Christine ODonnell, president of the Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association, said Thursday that she didnt know any hotel in the state with a policy that allows guests to smoke marijuana. for 365 days, $71.00 We live on the New Mexico border, and my daughter drives there frequently to visit her dad. The Border Patrol has checkpoints within 100 miles of the Mexican border, created with the intention of curbing illegal immigration and drug smuggling. She said, in one instant, she witnessed the entire spectrum of human behaviour, from its worst to its best: It was a very beautiful experience. I remember there is one when driving north but is there one heading south? The sheriff's office conducted the checkpoints a day after Gov. Dec 24th - Over 11 hours and that is without any stops. Officers in uniform boarded buses, separated foreigners from the Mexicans, and forced some women off, they say. "The asylum seekers having to stay in Mexico till they get processed has created some relief for our Border Patrol and they can get back on the checkpoints. We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. He and friend Caleb Pratt, left, lined up at 2:30 a.m. to be the first to buy pot legally aat the store. When we lived in NM years ago we knew that if you went close to the border you could expect those kind of stops. DO check with your hotel, lodge, restaurant or club about their policy regarding marijuana smoking. She said the surge in demand for social services during the pandemic was compounded by migration. On our next trip we may be comming into new mexico thru clovis and I was wondering if I should be expecting any kind of stop or check point. My bad. Yes, I meant 285 and then 54 to White Sands. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. According to The Associated Press, Colorados Marijuana Enforcement Division mailed licenses to 136 marijuana stores last Monday 102 of them in Denver. A few days after that, she emailed again. The Border Patrol checkpoints have been shutdown in the El Paso Sector as agents have been diverted to deal with an influx of immigrants. for 30 days, $6.99 Two Ecuadorian women describe their ordeal in Mexico. We just want to ensure the comfort and safety of all our guests.. There is no statewide or citywide pot purchaser registry. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code. Ed Andrieski/The Associated Press, Customer Adam Hartle makes a cash transaction, one of the first to buy retail marijuana at 3D Cannabis Center, which opened as a legal recreational retail outlet in Denver, on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014. It doesn't make any sense.". One human rights group that has chronicled a number of police injustices in the past by local, state and national forces says theres virtually no accountability. for 91 days, $85.00 Welcome! The governor also rolled back a previous announcement that allowed restaurants and breweries throughout the state to resume indoor dining, which is once again prohibited after the state saw a sharp spike in cases of the novel coronavirus this month. Meanwhile, the safety net in border areas is straining under current migration volumes. Some border truck stops might occasionally use state police to stop suspicious vehicles to check for drugs coming across the border. In (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? No. Stay informed of the latest local news by receiving emails as soon as news is posted online. There's no checkpoints. The perpetrators are not being held responsible.. The influx of migrants has slowed in recent months. Wyoming The state of Wyoming is located in the mountain region of the western US. For readers who live in New Mexico but outside of Taos County. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. In a statement, CBP writes, "This is a temporary measure. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88181869', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Santa Fe meeting up with US 54? Go back to see more maps of Nebraska. Towns in Colorado are blue on the map and those in New Mexico are ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88214530', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Santa Fe will be very dark. Nothing," he says. So they can't man that checkpoint. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Nowadays, traffic roars past orange cones that block the entrance to the checkpoint. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. The coronavirus has prompted actions that were inconceivable mere weeks ago: States discouraging out-of-state tourists and the revenue they bring, governors And said, as the son of immigrants, that these people remind him of his family. The Taos News mailed to your out of state residence everyweek for a full year! Driving into (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Also, the Trump administrations Remain in Mexico programhas been utilized tokeepasylum-seekers in border cities while awaiting hearings in U.S. immigration courts. EVERYONE has to stop at all three Austin - Lubbock - Santa Fe 2. Lt. Emmanuel Gutierrez, a state police spokesman, said Thursday that his agency wont be conducting marijuana checkpoints near the Colorado state line. The state law allows marijuana users who are not enrolled in Colorados medical cannabis program to be in possession of only 1 ounce of marijuana. I was just suprised since this would be illegal in texas.