Deb Haaland Focuses on Lowering Prices and Economic Development on New Mexico-Mexico Border

SANTA TERESA, N.M. – Deb Haaland, who is running to be the next governor of New Mexico, visited Santa Teresa last week for a briefing on how Trump’s tariffs on the border are raising prices and to discuss economic development at the New Mexico-Mexico border.

The border region in Santa Teresa supports thousands of jobs and billions in dollars of trade. 

Haaland, who has visited all 33 counties in her campaign for governor, called out Donald Trump’s tariffs for slowing investment in the region and raising costs to consumers. 
Construction of the Border Highway Connector and the need to increase the supply of housing were cited as necessary for facilitating future economic growth. Haaland, who led critical infrastructure investments at the Interior Department, stressed the need for New Mexico to build and plan for the future of New Mexican jobs. Haaland has committed to work with international partners to leverage New Mexico’s unique position. 

Haaland continues to meet with local businesses, families, unions and organizations who share their concerns about the rising cost of living as well as their ideas to make New Mexico a better place to live. As governor, she will be laser-focused on lowering costs, improving schools, creating good paying New Mexican jobs, and increasing public safety. 

See excerpts from her trip below.

KFOX VIDEO: Deb Haaland Visits Santa Teresa

Border Report: Trump tariffs hurting New Mexicans, Democrat says 

Mexico last year surpassed Canada as the United States’ principal trading partner. Billions of dollars in parts and merchandise come across the El Paso trade corridor every month, and just west of the Texas state line, Santa Teresa gets a chunk of that traffic.

Haaland’s visit focused on the thriving industry in the four industrial parks in Santa Teresa, where workers are already clearing brush from the future site of a $165 billion artificial intelligence data center being developed by Oracle and OpenAI.

She also took a stand on the Trump Administration tariffs she says not only threaten industry but already are hurting the pocketbooks of New Mexicans.

“Oh, dear heaven. The tariffs are so negative, causing everything to be more expensive,” Haaland said. “Everybody cites the tariffs as to why their grocery bills are going up. The tariffs are a scam; Trump should take those down immediately.

“New Mexicans rely on the trade relationship with Mexico. […] When they implemented these tariffs it was not a well thought out plan, it was done to punish countries but, as we see now, it’s punishing Americans, it’s punishing New Mexicans.”