If Up to New Mexico’s Governor, Undocumented “Hero” Wouldn't Have Saved Abducted Little Girl

by Gabriela Garcia · 2011-08-20 12:43:00 UTC
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A haunting but ultimately uplifting story out of New Mexico has been making the rounds in newspapers and TV reports across the country. A 6-year-old girl in Albuquerque was abducted as she walked home on a suburban street. The kidnapper pulled her into his van, parked near a rock hiding packing tape and a tie-down strap. But as he fled, a young father of two who witnessed what happened, risked his life to chase the perpetrator down in his own car, eventually forcing the van to crash into a pole and rescuing the little girl (video below the jump).

That man, Antonio Diaz Chacon, has been called a hero in media reports, by the police, and in a Facebook fan page that quickly emerged.

But what much of the English-language media has failed to report is that Diaz Chacon is also an undocumented immigrant. And, if New Mexico’s governor Susana Martinez had her way, he would’ve been unable to rescue the girl -- or risked criminal charges for doing so. The governor has promised to repeal the state law that allows undocumented immigrants in New Mexico to obtain a driver's license.

And her way of driving the message home has been to unconstitutionally harass foreign nationals in a costly and cruel way. Martinez called for a roundup of 10,000 immigrants who had to drive to Albuquerque to verify for a second time that they live in the state. Those coming from southern parts of the state were forced to give up an entire workday to make the 9-hour trip.

Having fewer licensed drivers who go through driving tests, are registered, and are mandated to acquire insurance makes little sense and does nothing but drive undocumented immigrants further underground. It would mean someone like Diaz Chacon would have to think twice about saving an abducted child, knowing that he could end up punished right alongside the kidnapper. It is policy that would only serve to make communities less safe.

New Mexico deserves better—it’s worked hard to ensure everyone in the state can go through the proper steps and acquire a license. Diaz Chacon’s heroic story highlights why Gov. Martinez’s proposed policy serves no-one. Tell the state legislature to reject Martinez' anti-immigrant agenda, which threatens the safety of all communities.

Photo Credit: Mr. T in DC

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Gabriela Garcia is a freelance writer who has written for Latina, the Miami New Times, National Geographic Traveler blog, and Matador Network blogs, amongst other publications.

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