New Mexico League of United Latin American Citizens

State Office
Dennis W. Montoya, JD
NM State Director

Ralph D. Arellanes
Executive Director

Paul Pablo A. Martinez

Past State Director (2006-2010)

February 3, 2017

For Immediate Release:

Contacts:

Mr. Ralph D. Arellanes, Sr.

(505) 688-2973

Mr. Paul Pablo Martinez

(575) 312-6327

NM LULAC Supports Doa Ana County Sheriff and Disputes Local Groups Mischaracterization

Las Cruces, NM- The New Mexico League of United Latin American Citizens (NM LULAC) and

Hispano Round Table of New Mexico (HRT-NM) acknowledges the fact Sheriff Enrique Kiki Vigil

is a former state director of the NM LULAC Organization. He resigned as NM LULAC State Director

subsequently after he was elected to office in 2014 as the Doa Ana County Sheriff. He was born in

Chihuahua, Mexico. He came to the United States as a small child and worked as a migrant worker. He

later became a naturalized US citizen. Sheriff Vigil sits on the New Mexico LULAC Board of Directors

and a former National LULAC Board member. He has always supported our organizations platform

and mission, stated Ralph Arellanes, NM LULAC Executive Director. Arellanes further alluded,

LULAC has been at the forefront in the national immigration debate advocating for passage of

comprehensive immigration reform. The League and HRT have been strong advocates in promoting

positive race relations, and both equity and inclusion for not only the Hispano community, but for all

PO Box 1324 Las Cruces, NM 88004 575-312-6327

people of color.

Sheriff Vigil has met with several major civil rights organizations in the past to discuss that his

Department will not act as immigration and custom enforcement agents. He has made it clear that the

duty of enforcing immigration laws is the responsibility of Department of Homeland Security. He is

charged with serving and protecting the public. The League will be sponsoring a forum with law

enforcement officials, including Sheriff Vigil and District Attorney Mark DAntonio. At this forum, we

will be inviting several other national civil rights organizations, US Justice Department and local law

enforcement officials throughout the county to focus on positive race relations and concerns that the

community may have with respect to public policy. NM LULAC is willing to help facilitate a meeting

with the Board of Directors of CAF and the Sheriff. It is our understanding that the CAF staff

members working on this protest were belligerent and confrontational with Sheriff Vigil. They have

called him out at various community meetings. If the goal of CAF is to understand the Sheriffs

position and not to attempt to discredit him because of close association with his adversaries, we are

willing to facilitate such a meeting that will be respectful and productive, said Paul Pablo A.

Martinez, Past NM LULAC State Director.

*LULAC is this nations oldest and largest Latino organization. Since 1929, LULAC has served

as a vanguard in fight for civil rights and social economic party for Latinos at all levels and facets

in our American society. *

PO Box 1324 Las Cruces, NM 88004 575-312-6327

PO Box 1324 Las Cruces, NM 88004 575-312-6327