近距离内射合集

On Friday afternoon, Republican congressional candidate Greg Cunningham issued a news release with a surprise announcement: The Department of Homeland Security had ordered contractors to stop drilling water wells near the Mexican border and obtain water from other sources after he reached out to the Trump administration.

On the same day, state Rep. Jenifer Jones, R-Deming, said in a news release of her own that she secured the halt after meeting with contractors, property owners and Customs and Border Protection officials.

While the news releases don鈥檛 mention each other鈥檚 efforts, the state Republican House Leadership Office said they were working in concert.

This summer, ranchers in Columbus and the Bootheel raised alarms over several rapidly developed water wells and high-volume pumping facilities situated near the border wall on land under federal control.

Departing from the government鈥檚 past practice of purchasing water locally or trucking it in, contractors proceeded to drill new wells without permits or hydrological studies as required under New Mexico water law. DHS said the water would be pumped for use in the construction of new border wall segments, support roads and other infrastructure.

New Mexico鈥檚 Office of the State Engineer pursued negotiations with DHS seeking compliance with state law through a series of video calls involving the agency, OSE staff and affected property owners as well as Tom Paterson, president of the New Mexico Cattle Growers鈥� Association.

The Cunningham campaign credited the candidate for securing the shift in policy. In the news release, Cunningham said, 鈥淲ater is the lifeline of Southern New Mexico. Every rancher, every family, every community down here depends on it, and I wasn鈥檛 going to sit back. When Senator (Gabriel) Ramos and Representative (Luis) Terrazas came to me, we got to work.鈥�

Ramos and Terrazas are both state legislators from Grant County and fellow Republicans.

Representatives from DHS and Customs and Border Protection were unavailable for comment.

鈥淲hen Southern New Mexico ranchers raised the alarm, we acted,鈥� Jones said in her own news release. 鈥淲e brought everyone to the table, worked with the administration, and secured a solution that protects our water while allowing border security work to continue.鈥� 

Luna County rancher Russell Johnson, a participant in the meetings with land near one of the new wells, told the Journal there had been progress during the week 鈥� but property owners weren鈥檛 celebrating just yet. He said border authorities 鈥渉ave instructed the contractor to cap the well on our ranch and the well on our neighbor鈥檚 ranch, but those wells are still on standby should they decide to use them.鈥�

Johnson said they were pushing DHS to decommission the wells, capping and plugging them to state specifications to prevent pumping in the future. 鈥淲e have not got that commitment,鈥� he said.

A spokesperson for OSE stated Friday: 鈥淲e have made clear to DHS that they immediately need to cease drilling wells, cease pumping water, submit plans to plug and abandon their wells, and acquire water for the border wall from legal sources. We have not received any confirmation from DHS that they are taking these steps.鈥�

While Cunningham鈥檚 news release said the candidate and his team 鈥渉ave been in constant contact with the Trump administration, working to resolve the issue before it escalated,鈥� the sitting congressman for southern New Mexico 鈥� U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, a Democrat 鈥� had not received any notice of the DHS halting the wells as of Friday, his office told the Journal.

Vasquez and Cunningham are facing off in the November election, where Vasquez hopes voters will grant him a third term and Cunningham is hoping to take the 2nd Congressional District seat back for Republicans. President Donald Trump endorsed Cunningham, a retired Albuquerque police detective, in April.

Vasquez said unchecked pumping from dwindling aquifers 鈥渋sn鈥檛 a political game to me.鈥�

鈥淥ur ranchers deserve to be confident their water is safe, which is why I鈥檝e been raising hell over DHS鈥� violation of their rights since day one,鈥� Vasquez continued. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 a game, it鈥檚 our livelihood; and I won鈥檛 stop fighting for my constituents in Luna County until I know for certain this federal overreach has ended.鈥�

In an interview, Cunningham declined to specify which Trump administration contacts dealt with him.

鈥淚 brought the issue to their attention, they responded, and they鈥檝e done all they can do at this point,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 know the resolution is out there and still needs to be done 鈥� we鈥檙e not quite there yet.鈥�

Acknowledging the novelty of his involvement while a candidate, Cunningham responded, 鈥淥ne of my skill sets is problem solving. That鈥檚 what I do, and I think this is an example of that. I can鈥檛 comment on what Congressman Vasquez is or is not doing. 鈥� I just want to solve problems.鈥�

Owen Scarpa, the communications director for the House Republican Leadership Office, said Cunningham 鈥減layed an important role in helping elevate the issue with the administration鈥� while Jones headed up a local effort.

鈥淭his was a collaborative effort involving local leaders, federal officials, and the administration,鈥� Scarpa said. 鈥淩ep. Jones鈥� release reflects the work she led on behalf of her constituents and her role in bringing the parties together.鈥�

Algernon 顿鈥橝尘尘补蝉蝉补 is the Journal鈥檚 southern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at adammassa@abqjournal.com.