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How have Trump’s first 100 days impacted the country? Look to New Mexico.

April 29, 2025

The Commons, a food bank and community hub in Silver City, New Mexico, is experiencing significant challenges due to Trump administration cuts to USDA food assistance programs, with $500 million removed from a key program that purchases food from farmers for distribution to food banks. Executive Director Iris Nolasco reports empty meat freezers and reduced ability to acquire adequate quantities of food from their food bank partners, noting supply issues are "already noticeable. " New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District, which includes Silver City, exemplifies how Trump's policies are reshaping the country, with local Representative Gabe Vasquez highlighting residents' fears about federal spending cuts and deportations.

Who is affected

  • Residents of Silver City and New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District who rely on food assistance
  • The Commons' staff, volunteers, and the community members they serve
  • New Mexicans who receive Medicaid (nearly 40% of the state's population)
  • SNAP recipients (one in five New Mexico residents)
  • Federal employees and those whose employment depends on federal funding
  • Immigrant communities and undocumented individuals
  • Small business owners like Patrick Saucedo who are affected by tariffs
  • Rural health clinics and their patients
  • Students and local residents encountering border enforcement

What action is being taken

  • The Commons is continuing to distribute available food despite reduced supplies
  • Rep. Gabe Vasquez is holding town halls to survey constituent concerns
  • Vasquez is pushing back against what he sees as Trump administration overreaches
  • Immigration authorities are conducting enforcement actions, including visiting The Commons
  • Community members are volunteering at The Commons (35-40 regular volunteers)
  • Vasquez's constituent services team is helping local businesses with federal program issues
  • Customs and Border Protection is operating checkpoints and boarding vehicles like school buses
  • Trump administration is implementing federal spending cuts affecting local programs

Why it matters

  • New Mexico has the third highest poverty rate in the country with significant dependence on federal assistance programs
  • The cuts directly impact food security in an already vulnerable community
  • The region's rural nature makes it heavily reliant on federal programs and employment
  • Immigration enforcement creates fear in communities with significant immigrant populations
  • The district represents a microcosm of Trump administration policies' impacts on rural America
  • Federal job cuts could affect critical services like wildfire management in drought-prone areas
  • Tariffs on Mexican agricultural products are increasing food prices for local residents
  • The political divides in the community are now resulting in tangible consequences for residents

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The 19th