- BORDER WALL-FUNDRAISER-THE LATEST
The Latest: Group behind private border wall has more plansSUNLAND PARK, N.M. (AP) — The man behind an online fundraising campaign to build a privately funded barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border says his group has 10 more projects in the pipeline but he declined to provide details about where the sections of wall would be located.
Veteran Brian Kolfage made the announcement during a news conference in Sunland Park, New Mexico, where We Build the Wall Inc. has been installing a concrete and metal barrier on private property.
Contractor Jimmy Fisher said Thursday the section will be just under a half-mile (less than 1 kilometer) long.
Kris Kobach, the group's legal counsel, said We Build the Wall plans to sign an easement allowing Border Patrol agents to patrol the private property without having to hand over ownership of the land to federal officials.
- TRUMP-IMMIGRATION
Trump promise of new Mexican tariffs brings protestsWASHINGTON (AP) — It was a surprise announcement that could derail a major trade deal. President Donald Trump has announced that he is placing a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports, effective June 10, to pressure the country to do more to crack down on the surge of Central American migrants trying to cross the U.S. border.
He said the percentage will gradually increase — up to 25% — "until the Illegal Immigration problem is remedied."
The decision showed the administration going to new lengths, and looking for new levers, to pressure Mexico to take action — even if those risk upending other policy priorities, like the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a trade deal that is the cornerstone of Trump's legislative agenda and seen as beneficial to his reelection effort.
- BORDER ACTIVIST TRIAL
Lawyer: Activist on trial showed 'kindness' helping migrantsTUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A lawyer for a border activist being tried in federal court in Arizona says his client was just trying to be kind by helping two migrants with water, food and lodging last year.
But prosecutors said they have evidence 36-year-old Scott Daniel Warren conspired to harbor the migrants.
The prosecutors also say the migrants were not in distress when arrived at a privately-owned building used to provide aid to immigrants who crossed the desert from Mexico into Arizona.
The Arizona Daily Star reports defense attorney Greg Kuykendall said in his opening statement Wednesday that prosecutors must prove Warren intended to break the law to be found guilty of harboring migrants and conspiring to transport and harbor the two immigrant men found with him who were in the U.S. illegally.
- RIDE-SHARE SHOOTING
Document: Fatal Uber shooting stemmed from 'vomit' in carALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Court documents show a fatal shooting of a New Mexico man killed by a ride-share driver stemmed from "a large amount of vomit" in an Uber vehicle.
The Albuquerque Journal reports documents submitted by the Bernalillo County District Attorney last week said the shooting was sparked by an argument over a "clean-up fee."
Police say a driver Clayton Benedict shot and killed 27-year-old passenger James Porter along Interstate 25 in Albuquerque on March 17. Benedict has not been charged and has declined to comment.
District Attorney's Office spokesman Michael Patrick says a charging decision may come in the next few weeks.
Last month, the family of Porter filed a lawsuit against Uber and Benedict over the shooting.
Uber told the Journal that Benedict no longer has access to the Uber app as a driver.
- ELECTION 2020-IMMIGRATION
Immigration largely absent from Democrats' 2020 policy blitzWASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential contenders are in a feverish battle to one-up each other with ever-more-ambitious plans to beat back global warming, curb gun violence and offer universal health care coverage.
But largely left out of the policy parade: immigration.
The 20-plus-candidate field is united in condemning President Donald Trump's support for hard-line immigration tactics. They've particularly bashed his push to wall off the U.S. border with Mexico and roll back asylum rights.
But only two contenders, ex-Obama Housing Secretary Julián Castro and former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke, have released detailed, written policies addressing the future of the immigration system.
Trump has continued to view the issue as a winner heading into 2020 and may have a clear path on it if Democratic presidential hopefuls don't eventually go deeper.
- BORDER WALL-CEMETERIES
Cemeteries and family memories stand in border wall's waySAN JUAN, Texas (AP) — Two historic graveyards are among the properties on the Mexican border that are under threat as the Trump administration rushes to build hundreds of miles of wall.
Under current plans, one of the 19th century cemeteries could be lost entirely. Some graves would have to be exhumed; others without a headstone might be paved over.
The people who would lose land have hired lawyers and staged protests. They're determined to fight in court to tie up construction and explain to the rest of the U.S. the hidden costs of a border wall.
Congress agreed last year to fund 33 miles of new walls and fencing in South Texas's Rio Grande Valley.
- OIL REFINERY-EXPANSION
Oil refining company plans expansion of New Mexico facility(Information from: Carlsbad Current-Argus, http://www.currentargus.com/)
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — The only crude oil refinery in southeast New Mexico serving Permian Basin production is looking to expand.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports Dallas-based Holly Frontier announced last week plans to apply for a permit modification so it can upgrade the Navajo Refinery in Artesia.
The refinery can currently process up to 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Holly Frontier plans to add six storage tanks, a railcar loading and unloading rack, a cooling tower and other piping components. It also plans to install a renewable diesel unit.
The state Air Quality Bureau will need to modify the refinery's permit for the expansion to proceed.
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- ELDERLY ADVOCATE-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico chooses ombudsman for nursing home complaintsSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has hired attorney and social worker Linnea Forsythe as the state's new ombudsman for long-term care to address concerns and complaints from the residents of nursing homes.
Aging and Long-Term Services Secretary Alice Liu McCoy announced the appointment Wednesday. She says the position is critical to protecting the health, safety and rights of vulnerable residents of long-term care facilities.
States are required to have an ombudsman program for long-term care under the federal Older Americans Act. The ombudsman in New Mexico relies on a network of volunteers that currently number fewer than 50.
The state's long-term care agency is attempting to expand that network of volunteers with the hiring of Forsythe.