Two Cariños Charter School Board members got into a physical fight after one of the men questioned how the other was treating a representative of a statewide immigrant advocacy group.
The fight started after KDCE radio personality Tomas Garcia showed his frustration and spoke up against how Board Secretary Del Jimenez treated Somos Un Pueblo’s Elsa Lopez, following her Sanctuary Campus Resolution presentation.
The Board was slated to vote on a resolution that would establish Cariños as a sanctuary campus that opposes the deportation of all immigrant children and their families.
Following her presentation, Jimenez became aggressive during about two minutes of questioning Lopez and demanded she admit that some of the undocumented people who enter the country aren’t worthy of the sanctuary they are seeking.
He also questioned the resolution because not only did it exclude other immigrant groups, but all the protections the resolution sought are already covered under U.S. law.
“What is the point of these questions anyway?” Garcia asked before insulting Jimenez. “You are an idiot.”
Jimenez answered by saing, “You are an animal.”
After that comment, Garcia hit him.
Lopez routinely gives immigration advocacy presentations throughout Northern New Mexico.
She said she was surprised to see the men start fighting.
When asked what sparked the aggressive line of questioning, Jimenez said he didn’t feel like Lopez was answering his questions.
Jimenez would not comment on the fight with Garcia.
Garcia said he isn’t pleased with his behavior and believes he overreacted because the topic hits home — his wife is a Mexican national.
“I am disappointed in my actions and the way I handled myself,” he said. “I felt like I disrespected the Board and our visitors.”
After taking an approximately 10 to 15 minute recess so the men could go to their proverbial corners and cool down, the meeting resumed. Despite the two hitting each other, following the recess, there was little indication that anything had taken place.
Law enforcement officers were not called.
Despite the drama, the resolution passed.
“I really think we are a country of laws,” Jimenez said before the Board went into executive session at the close of the meeting. “This thing has been talked about.”